And yeah, regarding the new world order, Trump and the repubs are bending over backwards to dismantle the foundation on which US power and influence are built worldwide. I think it's more likely that the US needs the rest of the world more than the reverse. America really doesn't produce anything of substance anymore. It consumes. That, along with the move to distance itself from the rest of the world are going to leave it considerably weakened in four years if Trump follows through and damages the US's economy, cloud and prestige. A major setback that we can't afford but which 50% of Americans voted for.
Take a peak at the numbers - they don’t lie. The US is far less dependent on imports as a function of GDP than any other country. And it is the least beholden to the Bretton Woods global order they created. Add to that its geography and demographic outlook and the US is actually extraordinarily well placed to pull back from providing security for the rest of the world. The Bretton Woods deal that has been the linchpin of success for every other country in the post-war era is over. Peter Zeihan outlines this trend presciently in his books. US foreign policy has been moving in this direction for a few decades now, we just haven’t been paying attention. The change will be painful and nothing short of a paradigm shift in the global world order.
Opinion: Annexation of Canada: Surreal or a Real Possibility?
March 2, 2025
The views expressed by Mr. Solomon (January 10, 2025) and Mr. Kliment (January 11, 2025) are sobering to say the least. Now that Mr. Trump has been in the White House for about six weeks, their predictions are seemingly becoming much more real. As a Canadian, I feel the threat of Mr. Trump’s annexing Canada has become an actual possibility - and there will be little we can do about it. There will be much political rhetoric coming in the next few days and weeks with respect to tariffs, support for Ukraine (or lack thereof), the Gaza stalemate / real estate deal and U.S. isolationism and potential withdrawal from the “international rules based order” as established by the United States in the aftermath of the Second World War. Against this backdrop, Mr. Trump has expressed his intent to expand American territory with the initial targets being Canada (annexation via “economic force” or perhaps militarily), Greenland (via suggested purchase) and the Panama Canal (via “repatriation”).
I would like to discuss the “Canadian Situation” only, in terms of a military annexation. Should Mr. Trump become frustrated by his economic aspirations for Canada to become the 51st State, what stops a military invasion from occurring? It should be noted that Mr. Trump won the 2024 Presidency with 49.8% and an advantage of 2,284,967 in the popular vote. Given that result, one can see that the majority of voters in the United States would probably support such an action by Mr. Trump with far too many actively cheering him on – including military personnel.
If Mr. Trump, as Commander – in – Chief, orders his vast military forces to invade in Canada, how could we possibly stop him? I would surmise that U.S. military forces could “capture” the following capitols in 24 – 48 hours:
1. Ottawa, Ontario – Federal Capitol.
2. British Columbia - Capital city: Victoria.
3. Alberta - Capital city: Edmonton.
4. Saskatchewan - Capital city: Regina.
5. Manitoba – Capital city: Winnipeg
6. Ontario - Capital city: Toronto
7. Quebec - Capital city: Québec City.
8. New Brunswick Capital city: Fredericton.
9. Prince Edward Island – Capital city: Charlottetown
10. Nova Scotia – Capital city: Halifax
11. Newfoundland and Labrador – Capital city: St. John’s
Additionally, the U.S. military forces would need to capture Canadian Armed Forces bases – this maneuver may take somewhat longer – 48 – 96 hours.
1. 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier Army Quebec
2. 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Army Alberta
3. 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa Army Ontario
4. 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Army New Brunswick
5. Canadian Forces Base Bagotville Air Force Quebec
6. Canadian Forces Base Borden Ontario
7. Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake Air Force Alberta
8. Canadian Forces Base Comox Air Force British Columbia
9. Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Navy British Columbia
10. Canadian Forces Base Gander Air Force Newfoundland & Labrador
11. Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay Air Force Newfoundland & Labrador
12. Canadian Forces Base Greenwood Air Force Nova Scotia
13. Canadian Forces Base Halifax Navy Nova Scotia
14. Canadian Forces Base Kingston Army Ontario
15. Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw Air Force Saskatchewan
16. Canadian Forces Base North Bay Air Force Ontario
17. Canadian Forces Base Shilo Army Manitoba
18. Canadian Forces Base Suffield Army Alberta
19. Canadian Forces Base Trenton Air Force Ontario
20. Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg Air Force Manitoba
21. Canadian Forces Station Alert Air Force Nunavut
22. Canadian Forces Station Leitrim Ontario
Once the invasion was completed – who is coming to Canada’s “rescue”? NATO members other than the United States?
Article 5 of the 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty is germane:
“Article 5 provides that if a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked.
Article 5
“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”
The North Atlantic Treaty does not contemplate the concept of one NATO member attacking another NATO member – that would have been completely counterintuitive in drafting such an agreement.
“The most noteworthy instance was the activation of Article 5 following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. NATO members rallied together to support the U.S., marking the first and only time Article 5 has been invoked in the alliance’s history.”
Would we see such a rally if the United States “headed North”?
The European Union (EU) is currently focused on, and to a large degree paralyzed, with the Ukraine. How will the EU respond given Mr. Trump’s berating of Mr. Zelensky in the Oval Office this past Friday (February 28th) and Washington’s apparent shift toward Russian President Vladimir Putin? I believe that the EU will attempt increase its economic, humanitarian and military support of Ukraine. That said, with the majority of NATO members (absent the United States) preoccupied with the war in the Ukraine and structuring some form of response, could they really come to the military aid of a NATO member (Canada) being invaded another NATO member (the United States)? I think not. I fully appreciate that foregoing “tale of angst” may appear to come across as a misguided conspiratorial flight of fantasy. However, we now live in world where we have one foot and three toes firmly planted in the Twilight Zone. “Never say never” somehow seems appropriate.
Trudeau with 9 years tariff and oil to usa, one on one friend of NATO, Group of 7, and KSA MNS led, who can if MBS wants, cancel Trump's prize objective to his personal image and wealth, his recently signed Red Sea Trump's hotel contract victim, while Trudeau and the absolute wrong-move resignation 16 Dec of the Finance Minister need to 'man up' it's all hands on deck: put asinine feelings aside: grab their experience and shut down the damned oil,Trump and DOGE need. Ship it from ports to non-USA buyers. Trump can't have Canada! Doug Ford, is given a top job in addition to his Ontario Leadership. Call to save Canada requires Trudeau to rise to Roosevelt's and Churchill's leadership. Cancel Resignation Now-- join forces, reappoint the experienced Finance minister, bring Doug Ford 's contribution of way forward: United States and it's president will feel the loss of Canadian trade-starting with OIL crossing from no 51st state but shutdown from Trudeau's and partners CANADA.
when? now, today. put government back together. And oil shutdown day January 19.
I wonder if the Canadians could sell oil and LNG to the Europeans (as they do with Asia). The EU would prob be quite happy to rely on the Canadians rather than the US given Trumps threats over tariffs and involving our allies in NATO. The problem with the Canadians is that they inordinately rely on US infrastructure to move and ship their energy products. Prob a big strategic mistake with someone like Trump in power now.
Trump believes in tariffs like a thug believes in a baseball bat. Nothing more. Nothing less.
And yeah, regarding the new world order, Trump and the repubs are bending over backwards to dismantle the foundation on which US power and influence are built worldwide. I think it's more likely that the US needs the rest of the world more than the reverse. America really doesn't produce anything of substance anymore. It consumes. That, along with the move to distance itself from the rest of the world are going to leave it considerably weakened in four years if Trump follows through and damages the US's economy, cloud and prestige. A major setback that we can't afford but which 50% of Americans voted for.
Take a peak at the numbers - they don’t lie. The US is far less dependent on imports as a function of GDP than any other country. And it is the least beholden to the Bretton Woods global order they created. Add to that its geography and demographic outlook and the US is actually extraordinarily well placed to pull back from providing security for the rest of the world. The Bretton Woods deal that has been the linchpin of success for every other country in the post-war era is over. Peter Zeihan outlines this trend presciently in his books. US foreign policy has been moving in this direction for a few decades now, we just haven’t been paying attention. The change will be painful and nothing short of a paradigm shift in the global world order.
Opinion: Annexation of Canada: Surreal or a Real Possibility?
March 2, 2025
The views expressed by Mr. Solomon (January 10, 2025) and Mr. Kliment (January 11, 2025) are sobering to say the least. Now that Mr. Trump has been in the White House for about six weeks, their predictions are seemingly becoming much more real. As a Canadian, I feel the threat of Mr. Trump’s annexing Canada has become an actual possibility - and there will be little we can do about it. There will be much political rhetoric coming in the next few days and weeks with respect to tariffs, support for Ukraine (or lack thereof), the Gaza stalemate / real estate deal and U.S. isolationism and potential withdrawal from the “international rules based order” as established by the United States in the aftermath of the Second World War. Against this backdrop, Mr. Trump has expressed his intent to expand American territory with the initial targets being Canada (annexation via “economic force” or perhaps militarily), Greenland (via suggested purchase) and the Panama Canal (via “repatriation”).
I would like to discuss the “Canadian Situation” only, in terms of a military annexation. Should Mr. Trump become frustrated by his economic aspirations for Canada to become the 51st State, what stops a military invasion from occurring? It should be noted that Mr. Trump won the 2024 Presidency with 49.8% and an advantage of 2,284,967 in the popular vote. Given that result, one can see that the majority of voters in the United States would probably support such an action by Mr. Trump with far too many actively cheering him on – including military personnel.
If Mr. Trump, as Commander – in – Chief, orders his vast military forces to invade in Canada, how could we possibly stop him? I would surmise that U.S. military forces could “capture” the following capitols in 24 – 48 hours:
1. Ottawa, Ontario – Federal Capitol.
2. British Columbia - Capital city: Victoria.
3. Alberta - Capital city: Edmonton.
4. Saskatchewan - Capital city: Regina.
5. Manitoba – Capital city: Winnipeg
6. Ontario - Capital city: Toronto
7. Quebec - Capital city: Québec City.
8. New Brunswick Capital city: Fredericton.
9. Prince Edward Island – Capital city: Charlottetown
10. Nova Scotia – Capital city: Halifax
11. Newfoundland and Labrador – Capital city: St. John’s
Additionally, the U.S. military forces would need to capture Canadian Armed Forces bases – this maneuver may take somewhat longer – 48 – 96 hours.
1. 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier Army Quebec
2. 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Army Alberta
3. 4th Canadian Division Support Base Petawawa Army Ontario
4. 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Army New Brunswick
5. Canadian Forces Base Bagotville Air Force Quebec
6. Canadian Forces Base Borden Ontario
7. Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake Air Force Alberta
8. Canadian Forces Base Comox Air Force British Columbia
9. Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Navy British Columbia
10. Canadian Forces Base Gander Air Force Newfoundland & Labrador
11. Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay Air Force Newfoundland & Labrador
12. Canadian Forces Base Greenwood Air Force Nova Scotia
13. Canadian Forces Base Halifax Navy Nova Scotia
14. Canadian Forces Base Kingston Army Ontario
15. Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw Air Force Saskatchewan
16. Canadian Forces Base North Bay Air Force Ontario
17. Canadian Forces Base Shilo Army Manitoba
18. Canadian Forces Base Suffield Army Alberta
19. Canadian Forces Base Trenton Air Force Ontario
20. Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg Air Force Manitoba
21. Canadian Forces Station Alert Air Force Nunavut
22. Canadian Forces Station Leitrim Ontario
Once the invasion was completed – who is coming to Canada’s “rescue”? NATO members other than the United States?
Article 5 of the 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty is germane:
“Article 5 provides that if a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked.
Article 5
“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.”
The North Atlantic Treaty does not contemplate the concept of one NATO member attacking another NATO member – that would have been completely counterintuitive in drafting such an agreement.
“The most noteworthy instance was the activation of Article 5 following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. NATO members rallied together to support the U.S., marking the first and only time Article 5 has been invoked in the alliance’s history.”
Would we see such a rally if the United States “headed North”?
The European Union (EU) is currently focused on, and to a large degree paralyzed, with the Ukraine. How will the EU respond given Mr. Trump’s berating of Mr. Zelensky in the Oval Office this past Friday (February 28th) and Washington’s apparent shift toward Russian President Vladimir Putin? I believe that the EU will attempt increase its economic, humanitarian and military support of Ukraine. That said, with the majority of NATO members (absent the United States) preoccupied with the war in the Ukraine and structuring some form of response, could they really come to the military aid of a NATO member (Canada) being invaded another NATO member (the United States)? I think not. I fully appreciate that foregoing “tale of angst” may appear to come across as a misguided conspiratorial flight of fantasy. However, we now live in world where we have one foot and three toes firmly planted in the Twilight Zone. “Never say never” somehow seems appropriate.
Trudeau with 9 years tariff and oil to usa, one on one friend of NATO, Group of 7, and KSA MNS led, who can if MBS wants, cancel Trump's prize objective to his personal image and wealth, his recently signed Red Sea Trump's hotel contract victim, while Trudeau and the absolute wrong-move resignation 16 Dec of the Finance Minister need to 'man up' it's all hands on deck: put asinine feelings aside: grab their experience and shut down the damned oil,Trump and DOGE need. Ship it from ports to non-USA buyers. Trump can't have Canada! Doug Ford, is given a top job in addition to his Ontario Leadership. Call to save Canada requires Trudeau to rise to Roosevelt's and Churchill's leadership. Cancel Resignation Now-- join forces, reappoint the experienced Finance minister, bring Doug Ford 's contribution of way forward: United States and it's president will feel the loss of Canadian trade-starting with OIL crossing from no 51st state but shutdown from Trudeau's and partners CANADA.
when? now, today. put government back together. And oil shutdown day January 19.
Find new long-term oil buyers.
It would take the consent of each and every province as well as the territories to agree to join. NEVER HAPPEN!!
We'll see Americans without oil, gas, steel and wood before we give up our SOVEREIGN COUNTRY!
I wonder if the Canadians could sell oil and LNG to the Europeans (as they do with Asia). The EU would prob be quite happy to rely on the Canadians rather than the US given Trumps threats over tariffs and involving our allies in NATO. The problem with the Canadians is that they inordinately rely on US infrastructure to move and ship their energy products. Prob a big strategic mistake with someone like Trump in power now.