Washington (CNN)Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Thursday visit to the White House has the administration beaming even as American presidential candidates are bashing a central pillar of U.S.-Canada ties.
Trudeau's trip is expected to yield announcements on the environment and border security and cover shared security challenges in the fight against ISIS.
The 44-year-old leader's arrival marks the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister in 19 years. The schedule will involve a special level of pomp and circumstance to signal White House pleasure that after nine years of conservative rule, its northern neighbor now has a like-minded leader in office.
"The new prime minister would fit almost perfectly in the Democratic Party alongside the American president," said Michael Byers, a professor of international politics at the University of British Columbia.
Trade and climate change will top the agenda, according to White House officials. And though Trudeau pledged on the campaign trail to downgrade some of Canada's presence in the Middle East to fight ISIS, he has expanded collaboration with the U.S.-led coalition, earning the Obama administration's appreciation.
source : http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/09/politics/justin-trudeau-white-house-visit/index.html
