U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer a joke and are meant to undermine America’s closest ally, Canada’s finance minister said Wednesday.

The president-elect keeps floating the idea that Canada, which is home to more than 40 million people and is a founding NATO partner, should join the U.S.

President-elect Trump proposed making Canada the 51st state, citing $200–250 billion in US subsidies and low NATO contributions. PM Trudeau earlier dismissed the remarks as a distraction, reaffirming sovereignty and warning of countermeasures if tariffs are imposed.