Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney said that Donald Trump will “never break us” as his Liberal Party stormed to victory in the country’s election.
The win caps a stunning turnaround in fortunes fuelled by the US President’s annexation and trade war threats.
In a victory speech before supporters in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, Mr Carney stressed the importance of Canadian unity in the face of the threats coming from Washington.
See also: Meet Mark Carney - the former BoE governor and Canada’s new prime minister
"We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons," he said.
"As I've been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country," the former Bank of England governor said.
"These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never - that will never, ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed."
After polls closed, the Liberals were projected to win more of parliament's 343 seats than the Conservative Party, though it was not immediately clear if they would win an outright majority or would need to rely on one or more smaller parties to form a government and pass legislation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated his new Canadian counterpart on Tuesday morning, describing the UK and Canada as “the closest of allies, partners and friends”.
Sir Keir added: “With your leadership, and personal ties to the UK, I know the relationship between our two countries will continue to grow.
“Our partnership is based on shared history and values, with a shared sovereign, and I look forward to strengthening our ties following our successful meeting in Downing Street last month.
“We will work together to deepen our economic relationship to deliver security for hardworking people in the UK and Canada – which we were both elected to do."
The Liberals looked headed for a crushing defeat until the American president started attacking Canada's economy and threatening its sovereignty, insisting it should become the 51st state.
Trump's actions infuriated Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the election narrative and win a fourth-straight term in power.
"We were dead and buried in December. Now we are going to form a government," David Lametti, a former Liberal Justice Minister, told broadcaster CTV.
"We have turned this around thanks to Mark," he said.
The Conservative Party's leader, Pierre Poilievre, hoped to make the election a referendum on former prime minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose.
But Trump attacked, Mr Trudeau resigned and Mr Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party's leader and prime minister.
In a speech conceding defeat and with his own seat in the House of Commons still in doubt, Mr Poilievre vowed to keep fighting for Canadians and their right to an affordable home on a safe street.
"We are cognisant of the fact that we didn't get over the finish line yet," Mr Poilievre told his supporters in Ottawa.
"We know that change is needed, but change is hard to come by. It takes time. It takes work.
"And that's why we have to learn the lessons of tonight - so that we can have an even better result the next time Canadians decide the future of the country."
Even with Canadians grappling with the fallout from a deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street festival, Trump was trolling them on election day, suggesting on social media that he was on their ballot and repeating that Canada should become the 51st state.
He also erroneously claimed that the US subsidises Canada, writing: "It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!"
Trump's truculence has infuriated many Canadians, leading many to cancel US vacations, refuse to buy American goods and possibly even vote early. A record 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots before election day.
"The Americans want to break us so they can own us," Mr Carney said in the run-up to election day. "Those aren't just words. That's what's at risk."
As he and his wife cast their ballots in their Ottawa district on Monday, Mr Poilievre implored voters to "Get out to vote - for a change."
After running a Trump-like campaign for months, though, his similarities to the bombastic American leader might have cost him.
Reid Warren, a Toronto resident, said he voted Liberal because Mr Poilievre "sounds like mini-Trump to me". And he said Trump's tariffs are a worry.
"Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it's definitely created some turmoil, that's for sure," he said.
