AlvinofDiaspar
Moderator
Maybe that's because they flattered Trump enough (and that the current PM is outwardly ideologically aligned enough).
AoD
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Canada and the World
- Thread starter kEiThZ
- Start date
Maybe that's because they flattered Trump enough (and that the current PM is outwardly ideologically aligned enough).
AoD
kEiThZ
Superstar
Most relevant to us is that they say:
1) That they will help right wing parties in Europe.
2) They won't interfere in China and Russia.
3) Countries substantially reliant on the US for security should give sole source contracts to American companies.
I'd be more worried if I thought they were competent enough to operationalize a lot of this.
If there's one silver lining to this timeline is that the average Canadian is being forced to be slightly less ignorant about national security issues. Unfortunately, the complete lack of interest in the matter over the years and the broadly childish approach (defining everything through the Americentric lens) has left us massively out of practice. Our governments don't even publish regular comprehensive strategies.
1) That they will help right wing parties in Europe.
2) They won't interfere in China and Russia.
3) Countries substantially reliant on the US for security should give sole source contracts to American companies.
I'd be more worried if I thought they were competent enough to operationalize a lot of this.
If there's one silver lining to this timeline is that the average Canadian is being forced to be slightly less ignorant about national security issues. Unfortunately, the complete lack of interest in the matter over the years and the broadly childish approach (defining everything through the Americentric lens) has left us massively out of practice. Our governments don't even publish regular comprehensive strategies.
kEiThZ
Superstar
I worry less about the Americans invading Canada. I worry about what happens if there is an incident in the Arctic or off our coasts and we have to ask for help. They'll help. But they'll take it at recognition that we aren't fully sovereign. Canadians have to get over the idea that military stuff is something only for the Americans to do. They won't respect us if we can't exercise control over our entire territory.
Full Metal Junkie
Active Member
Touching. Hits harder than the Reagan ad ever could. We should rent 9 minutes or the superbowl halftime show and run this video.Someone forwarded the opening video for the 2025 Halifax Security Conference. It's pretty decent - about 9 minutes. A couple of subtle digs.
I am told the US did not send an official delegation, but it seems some high-ranking military staff decided to take vacation and spend it in Halifax.
Opening Video 2025 - Opening Video - Halifax International Security Forum 2025
This is "Opening Video - Halifax International Security Forum 2025" by Halifax Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.vimeopro.com
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afransen
Senior Member
In reality, isn't the EU more like greater Germany? The idea that Russia should consider Europe their sphere of influence is kind of laughable. And most of Europe would more readily align with Germany as a power centre than Russia or the US if the US became purely transactional.
Full Metal Junkie
Active Member
Another good discussion on the National Security Strategy with a short (but to the point) mention of its implications to Canada
kEiThZ
Superstar
Germany and France are the two major poles of the EU. Though I'd argue that Spain and Italy aren't bit players. And Poland is growing in importance everyday.
I would agree that their worldview on Europe is less than sophomoric. Edgy teenagers probably have better takes.
Mostly though in worrying about Canada, I'd really like us to start producing proper national strategy documents.
kEiThZ
Superstar
There's a few places I agree with the Trumpists.
First of, a lot of American allies were way too dependent on the US for their security. In our case, our military is half the size it was at the end of the Cold War, despite having 46% more people and 64% more GDP.
Next, it's not clear that any aid gives and trade concessions the US makes wins them influence. The Chinese spend pennies on developing assistance and seem to supplant the US all over the Global South in trade and influence.
All of that is a raw deal for the American taxpayer. So naturally some backlash should be expected.
Yet the Trump Administration NSS is sophomoric slop that doesn't think through their goals here.
First of, a lot of American allies were way too dependent on the US for their security. In our case, our military is half the size it was at the end of the Cold War, despite having 46% more people and 64% more GDP.
Next, it's not clear that any aid gives and trade concessions the US makes wins them influence. The Chinese spend pennies on developing assistance and seem to supplant the US all over the Global South in trade and influence.
All of that is a raw deal for the American taxpayer. So naturally some backlash should be expected.
Yet the Trump Administration NSS is sophomoric slop that doesn't think through their goals here.
afransen
Senior Member
I hope the Democrats are working on their own version of project 2025--a plan to rapidly smash the legacy of the Trump administration.
kEiThZ
Superstar
Unlikely, there's things that Trump is doing that are irreversible. They can't rebuild agencies that have been shuttered very easily. And good luck unscrewing the judiciary.
Democrats fighting each other over perfection and culture wars while ignoring the wolf at the door, will go down in the history books as some of the greatest blunders.
picard102
Senior Member
Start with the ballroom.
Full Metal Junkie
Active Member
That would require them to actually learn from their mistakes and do something productively for once. What makes you think they are capable of such feats?
EBT
Active Member
I'm curious. What is this "incident" in the Arctic or off our coasts that you worry so much about that will require Canada to ask (beg?) for help from the Americans?
Are you worried another Chinese weather balloon will be blown off course requiring American F-35's to scramble from Eielson Air Force Base Alaska to shoot it down over the Canadian north? Or what about that "menacing" balloon that turned out to be a hobbyist balloon that was shot down by American fighter jets over Lake Huron. Where were Canada's CF-18's when we needed them to neutralize this great threat to southern Ontario from a $100 hobbyist balloon? Instead we had to rely on our American "ally" to protect southern Ontario from a hobbyist balloon (no joke, this was like a $100 hobbyist balloon bought from a "Hobby-Lobby" store).
What exactly are you worried about?
You say, "They [Americans] won't respect us if we can't exercise control over our entire territory". The Americans already don't respect Canada because we don't DEMAND respect and when has Canada been fully sovereign? As long as I have been alive Canada has been an American vassal state. This has been ever thus. It was true in 1958 when I was born. In that year the US ordered PM Diefenbaker to cancel the Avro Arrow program and turn the prototypes into aluminum pots and pans. As for not having "control over our entire territory" Canada contributes 40% to the cost of NORAD which exists solely for the defense of the continental United States so explain that.
If I was Prime Minister I would give Trump an ultimatum. Drop ALL tariffs on Canada or we will exit NORAD completely and you can defend the continental U.S. from positions along the 49th parallel. Also, take all your early warning radar systems out of our Arctic.
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Full Metal Junkie
Active Member
Midtown Urbanist
Superstar
More on this conference:Someone forwarded the opening video for the 2025 Halifax Security Conference. It's pretty decent - about 9 minutes. A couple of subtle digs.
I am told the US did not send an official delegation, but it seems some high-ranking military staff decided to take vacation and spend it in Halifax.
Opening Video 2025 - Opening Video - Halifax International Security Forum 2025
This is "Opening Video - Halifax International Security Forum 2025" by Halifax Videos on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
Matt Gurney: 'We will never fucking trust you again'
Some blunt talk for our American neighbours at the Halifax International Security Forum.
www.readtheline.ca
It is way more interesting than the headline itself. We are not returning to the old post-war order, it is not possible if America's closest friends and allies now have a de facto Gaullist worldview as it relates to their trust in Washington, which is an entirely different conceptual structure from the post-war order and will persist and underpin national security planning for all Allied nations moving forward.