The Role of Canada in US Defense Planning

 Canada and the United States have a special relationship. Shared location, comparable ideals, same interests, deep personal relationships, and significant, multifaceted economic links form the foundation of the Canada-United States cooperation. Our two countries have a strong and long-standing defense and national security alliance, which provides both countries with more security than they could achieve independently. Trade and investment between Canada and the United States supports millions of jobs and contributes to the safe and efficient flow of goods and people over the border, which is critical to both nations' economic competitiveness and success. The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)Footnote1 strengthens Canada's strong commercial links with the United States and Mexico while providing major economic benefits to all three countries. Canada has an embassy in Washington, D.C., consulates general in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, as well as three trade offices and fourteen honorary consuls. The United States has an embassy in Ottawa and consulates general throughout Canada.

Roadmap, Joint Statements, and Other Leader-Level Commitments

In March 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed US President Joe Biden to Canada for his first in-person visit since his inauguration. The two leaders issued a Joint Statement that expanded on the commitments made in the 2021 Roadmap for a Renewed Canada-US Partnership to accelerate the clean energy transition, strengthen North American critical minerals and semiconductor supply chains, protect shared waters and the Arctic, advance diversity and inclusion, and strengthen global alliances against threats to the international order. Overall, there are over a hundred Leader-level commitments that outline a path forward for achieving the new green economy, including the work of a new Energy Transformation Task Force (led by the Deputy Prime Minister) and strengthening Canada-US collaboration across a range of mutual interests and shared domestic, bilateral, and multilateral priorities. Our two countries work together to keep our common border safe and secure. Officials in Canada and the United States work closely together to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods and people over the border, which is critical to both nations' economic competitiveness and prosperity.

Permanent Joint Board for Defence

The PJBD, established in 1940, is the highest level bilateral defence conference between the United States and Canada. It continues to provide essential senior military and diplomatic communication, with its meetings serving as a window into Canada-United States defense relations for almost seven decades. The Canadian and United States PJBD co-chairs serve as advisors, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and President, respectively, on issues impacting the northern half of the Western Hemisphere's defense and security. The Board has examined virtually every important joint defense measure undertaken since the end of the Second World War, including the construction of the Distant Early Warning Line of radars, the establishment of the North American Aerospace Defense Command in 1958, the bi-national operation of the underwater acoustic surveillance system, the decision to proceed with the North American Air Defence Modernization program in 1985, and most recently providing the necessary strategic

Discussions have expanded to encompass larger policy problems connected to continental defense and security, such as efforts to identify areas of cooperation to defend against asymmetric attacks and secure important North American infrastructure. The Board meets semi-annually, with hosting duties alternating between the two countries.

What is the relationship between the US and Canada?

I believe a good analogy is that we are like brothers. We largely speak the same language. However, one brother had to go and become quite fluent in French. We argue on a number of topics. Sometimes one brother simply shakes his head at the other sibling's actions. We mainly get along, and we enjoy visiting one other's homes. (Usually) When the going gets tough, we'll defend each other against any threat. Because we are brothers. Probably worse than things have been in my 75 years on this planet. I don't believe there has ever been a US president who has spread such complete fabrications about Canada, our society, and our economy. To top it all off, he treats leaders from North Korea, China, and Russia with more regard and, dare I say, affection than he does our own leader. Canada has been there for the US numerous times over the last 40 years, including the Iran hostages affair (which was completely misinterpreted in the film Argo as a CIA operation), 9/11, when we took in and housed tens of thousands of Americans stranded in cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, and Gander, and sending thousands of troops to support the US not only in retaliating against the Taliban and Al Quaida, but also in the first Gulf War. However, when Saudi Arabia overreacted to Canadian criticism of its human rights, the United States declined to defend their closest friend and ally.