Bermuda is being encouraged to forge closer trading ties with Canada in the wake of Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States.

Tom Clark, the Canadian Consul-General to Bermuda, said that “a renaissance” in relations between the two countries would bring vital stability to the island at a time when “geopolitical tectonic plates are moving“.

Mr Clark is on the island this week for meetings with David Burt, the Premier, and Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, as well as to attend a business summit.

In an interview with The Royal Gazette, Mr Clark claimed that the US had become unstable under the Trump Administration and could no longer be relied on as an ally and trading partner.

In recent weeks, Mr Trump has suggested that Canada could become a US state.

He has also levied trade tariffs against Canada and other countries, and expressed interest in taking control of Greenland using military and economic force if necessary.

Claiming that Mr Trump had “turned the world upside down”, Mr Clark said: “In this changing landscape that we’re in, there’s a huge opportunity for Canada and Bermuda to start reimagining our relationship.

“We’re doing a conscious uncoupling from the United States and the rest of the world is beginning to think that way as well — you can’t rely on the US any more.

“I think there’s a terrific opportunity on all levels for there to be a renaissance in Canada-Bermuda relations.

“I think it’s something we should pursue and the time is now. We haven’t got the luxury of time.

“There’s no question that so much of this is being conducted by the new president who has turned the world upside down.”

Responding to Mr Trump’s suggestion that Canada could become the 51st US state, Mr Clark said: “People used to laugh at that in Canada. Now it just makes us angry.

“Our government believes that Donald Trump has territorial ambitions in Canada and we take that very seriously. It is not a joke.

“We couldn’t have imagined that there would be a US president so disrespectful of Canada — having territorial ambitions in Canada. That seems almost like a science fiction novel to us, and yet here we are.

“Our simple answer is … it ain’t going to happen. Never. Period.”

Mr Clark added: “But it has done something interesting in Canada. It has brought Canada together in a way I have never seen before and it’s happened in a period of about six weeks.

“Canada is angry and on the other side of that anger is a fierce pride in being Canadian, a fierce pride in wanting to keep our country free and sovereign.”

Asked if he thought the US president had ambitions to obtain other territories — including Bermuda — Mr Clark said: “When you look around the world right now and the way the geopolitical tectonic plates are moving, I think everything is on the table.

“I have no idea what the US president is thinking in terms of future acquisitions but the lesson for the world right now is … take a look at what’s happening in Canada and see if you think you’re immune from that. If the US can do it to Canada, who else can they do it to? Pretty much everybody.

“You have to react to what is in front of you and say ‘what are we going to do about this?’

“And it’s not just Canada saying that we have to find other sources of supply — it’s countries all over the world who have traditionally relied on the United States and are now finding the US to be an unreliable partner.”

Mr Clark said that there had historically been strong links between Bermuda and Canada in both trade and education, and that it was time to reinvigorate that relationship.

Claiming that Mr Trump had put many countries “on the back foot”, he said: “Up until the 1980s, a lot of ships that brought supplies to Bermuda sailed from Halifax, until it became cheaper and easier to have things shipped in from Newark and other US ports.

“But I think we are at a point now where we should re-look at that supply line into Bermuda. If you’re going to buy goods, why not buy them from Canada? We’re secure and we’re reliable.

“Bermuda knows Canada — we’re not strangers, so let’s take a look at it again and see what we can do.”