The US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, is downplaying concerns that the new US national security strategy could lead to his government supporting political movements in Canada.

The National Security Strategy states that the US government will “reward and encourage” governments, political parties and movements that are “broadly aligned” with its principles and strategy.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Canadian Press at the end of the year, Trump’s representative in Canada said the language in the national security document could be interpreted “broadly.”

“Let’s see how this plays out, OK,” Hoekstra said. “It can be interpreted in a bunch of different ways.”

But while Hoekstra said he doesn’t see the U.S. meddling in domestic politics, he accuses Ontario of doing just that by airing an ad on U.S. TV networks quoting former U.S. President Ronald Reagan attacking the tariffs.

“I don’t recall many Canadians expressing much concern about the political involvement of the Canadian government in American politics,” he said, after describing the fall ad campaign in Ontario as a “specifically targeted political intervention against the president.”

But former diplomats and critics warn the new strategy could be a blueprint for US meddling in Canada’s internal affairs.

Bob Rae, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, wrote in Policy magazine that Canada “has been warned that the current United States government will actively support political parties and movements in our country that agree with Trump’s policies.”

WATCH | Hoekstra says that anti-tariff advertising is interfering with American politics:

US Ambassador Hoekstra accuses Canada of meddling in US politics with anti-tariff ad in Ontario

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Canada has meddled in U.S. electoral politics with an ad against Ontario tariffs that prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to end trade talks. “You can’t come to America and start running government-funded political ads and expect there to be no repercussions or backlash,” he said.

Former Canadian diplomat Artur Wilczynski called the document “deeply problematic” and said it could signal US support for actors linked to Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement or “openly hostile to Canada” – and noted that the ambassador had not made it clear that the US would never interfere.

He said the text in the national security document suggested the US would consider “using the various instruments of commerce of its broader national security apparatus to achieve its hemispheric objectives.”

“It could manifest itself in many ways,” Wilczynski said, adding that it could mean anything from undermining Canada’s immigration and refugee system to helping separatists and groups that support Trump’s goal of making Canada the 51st country.

“They’re going to use whatever tools they have, whether it’s funding, whether it’s overt or covert. They’re basically hinting that they’re going to do that,” he said.

But Hoekstra insists Canada-US relations have turned the page on the idea that Trump made Canada the 51st country and that the leaders of the two nations have “moved beyond that.”

“It seems the president and prime minister have gone way beyond that,” Hoekstra said. “They’re joking about it now.”

The ambassador pointed to an October meeting in Egypt where Trump accidentally called Carney president, Carney said “I’m glad you promoted me to president,” and Trump said, “at least I didn’t say governor.”

Later that month, Trump ended trade talks with Canada over an ad against tariffs in Ontario.