Battle for control over one of Earth’s most precious resources, U.S. President Donald Trump has set his sights on Canada’s water. What started as a trade dispute over tariffs could soon escalate into something much bigger: a fight for the future of North America’s freshwater supply.
In February 2025, Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke twice, negotiating over tariffs and Canadian exports. But those calls weren’t just about trade—Trump had an even more pressing issue on his mind: Canada’s vast freshwater resources. He hinted at revisiting the complex agreements that regulate the sharing of rivers and lakes between the two countries, a topic that has long been a point of contention.
Trump has previously expressed his desire to “bring Canada to its knees” using economic power, and his comments in early 2025 about renegotiating water-sharing treaties raised serious alarms. This isn’t the first time the former president has hinted at altering the water agreements that have been in place for decades. On January 7, before his inauguration, Trump publicly suggested that he might use military force to annex Canada—something he later downplayed as “economic force.”
But the battle over water goes far beyond political theater. According to Liz Kirkwood, executive director of the Traverse City nonprofit FLOW, agreements such as the Boundary Waters Treaty and the Great Lakes Compact have served as the bedrock for protecting North America’s water. These treaties safeguard the Great Lakes, which hold 20% of the world’s fresh surface water—a critical resource that many fear is being targeted by powerful interests.
Kirkwood warns that breaking these agreements would be catastrophic—not only for the lakes but also for the relationship between the U.S. and Canada, two long-standing allies. The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially with climate change exacerbating water scarcity globally.
Organizations like the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Milwaukee Riverkeeper have been at the forefront of advocating for these protections. Alliance CEO Joel Brammeier argues that these treaties are the foundation for sustainable water management in the region. He firmly believes that there’s no room for political gamesmanship when it comes to the Great Lakes.
Cheryl Nenn, Riverkeeper in Milwaukee, adds that the Great Lakes are a fragile, irreplaceable resource. With only 1% of the lakes replenished by rainfall and snowmelt, the rest of the water is a gift from glaciers that needs to be carefully guarded. “We need to protect them from abuse and over-consumption,” Nenn states, emphasizing that this issue should take precedence over politics.
For many in the Midwest, protecting the Great Lakes isn’t just about environmental responsibility—it’s a matter of national pride. Cameron Davis, a former U.S. EPA official, points out that Midwesterners view safeguarding these waters as an act of patriotism. And they know that Canada is a crucial partner in this effort.
While Trump’s economic moves against Canada are making headlines, the real threat to the Great Lakes lies in how these disputes may evolve. Will the thirst for control over water resources threaten decades of cooperation, or will the shared commitment to protecting these vital resources prevail? Only time will tell.
