The US has terminated a joint defence programme with Canada that had been in place for over 80 years
This is according to Al Jazeera.
US Deputy Secretary of Defence Elbridge Colby announced that his department is suspending its work within the joint body. The Pentagon wishes to reassess the benefits of this format. The US no longer sees the point in a forum where one of the parties is ignoring its obligations, the department stated.
According to the US side, Canada has made no progress, but merely promises change. Elbridge Colby emphasised this on social media:
“A strong Canada that prioritises hard power over rhetoric is in all our interests. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make meaningful progress on its defence commitments. We can no longer ignore the gap between rhetoric and reality.”
What is known about the defence council between the two countries
This council has a long history. It was established during the Second World War and for decades served as the cornerstone of security on the continent. However, following Donald Trump’s return in 2025, everything changed: relations between the countries became strained, the article states.
The US administration makes the following claims against Canada:
- a lack of real investment in ‘hard power’;
- Ottawa’s excessive dependence on US military power;
- a disconnect between public statements and actual actions in the security sphere.
The decision regarding Canada is no accident, the agency notes. It is part of Donald Trump’s broader strategy, as he frequently criticises NATO partners and other allies. He considers it unfair that the US pays for the security of other countries.
What are relations between the US and Canada like now?
They can be described as complicated and very tense. It all began when Trump unexpectedly started declaring that Canada should become the 51st state, and he did so during the tenures of both Carney and Trudeau.
Canadians responded with patriotic actions such as boycotting American goods, and Trump threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports in response.
Trump also criticised the neighbouring country for Ottawa’s opposition to the construction of the ‘Golden Dome’ over Greenland.
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