Beyond its value as a strategic economic asset, Canada’s only deep-sea Arctic port could prove vital to Canada’s sovereignty if US President Donald Trump follows through on his talk of gaining control of Greenland.

That’s according to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who has been pushing for more investment from Ottawa to expand Churchill Port in recent months amid President Trump’s tariffs.

“If things continue in Greenland, what’s our only hope? Churchill. So we’re leaning strongly toward Churchill,” Kinew told reporters at an unrelated news conference in Winnipeg on Monday. Approximately 1000km south of Churchill.

“Canada has a lot of great plans for the future, but we only have one port and one rail line that provides water to the Arctic, and that’s absolutely essential to maintaining our sovereignty.”

Kinew’s comments: President Trump threatens to impose tariffs on European countries Attempts to thwart his efforts to take over and control Greenland.

Federal Minister for Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand agrees that Churchill’s whereabouts could become important if international tensions over Greenland escalate.

“Strategically, it could be the supply chain that’s needed to move supplies into North Korea, whether it’s military, civilian or business,” Chartrand said at an unrelated news conference in Winnipeg on Monday.

“I think strategically Churchill is the gateway to the north.”

Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force are currently participating in a pre-planned NORAD exercise in Greenland, but CBC News reports that this weekend Prime Minister Mark Carney Denmark is considering whether to send more troops to its planned sovereignty exercises.

On Monday morning, President Trump told NBC News:100 percent“We have pledged to impose a 10% tariff on the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden if they continue to oppose U.S. control of Greenland.”

President Trump’s tariff threat comes after eight EU member states sent a small military force to Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory of Greenland last week.

In 1951, the United States and Denmark signed an agreement. Americans build a military base in Greenland and are allowed to move freely within the island. As long as information reaches Greenland and Denmark.

Tensions rose again after conversations between Danish officials and the Trump administration failed to quell fears.

In an interview with NBC on Monday, President Trump answered “no comment” when asked if the government would take over Greenland by force. Last week, spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told the media: “The use of U.S. forces is always an option at the discretion of the commander in chief.”

Kinew has been urging Canada for months to help strengthen Churchill’s port and rail infrastructure as a way to boost international trade in the face of President Trump’s tariffs.

The expansion project received an honorable mention, but the first two attempts failed. Announcing funding for major projects by the Carney administration.

Federal Minister Chartrand was in Winnipeg on Monday to announce a partnership between three provincial transportation agencies.

Arctic Gateway Group, Winnipeg Airport Authority and CentrePort have signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to work more closely to take full advantage of Manitoba’s land, rail, air and sea networks.

Kinew took the opportunity to weigh in on Greenland on Monday when he announced funding to strengthen security for cultural and religious groups facing issues unrelated to Greenland. Hate-based vandalism or harassment.

The Prime Minister urged onlookers to consider that “the opportunities presented by Churchill are becoming more and more important with each passing day”.

“One of the things I’ve had the privilege of talking to over the years with people in the military that stands out to me is, ‘Amateurs think about strategy, professionals think about logistics,'” Kinew said.

“If you’re thinking something about Trump, if you’re thinking something about Greenland, think about Churchill,” he said.

“That’s Canada’s answer to what’s going on right now. By the way, that’s Canada’s answer to how do we grow our economy, how do we reduce our dependence on the United States, how do we make sure that the resources of Western Canada get to the EU and make sure they get to Asia.”