Donald Trump is threatening to annex Canada through “economic force” while suggesting the use of military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland. As Trump’s inauguration approaches it’s time for the NDP to advocate distancing Canada from the ‘Ugly American’. Take a minute to ask NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to press for an independent Canadian foreign policy.
Canada needs a political party that stands up to Donald Trump and calls for an independent foreign policy. As you know the incoming US president recently threatened to annex Canada through “economic force” at a press conference in which he suggested using military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland. As we approach Trump’s inauguration, the NDP should call for Canada to clearly distance itself from the Ugly American.
After 15 months of the US arming and assisting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Washington’s standing in the world is at a low point. Its role in Gaza makes a mockery of US claims to be advancing international law in Ukraine or elsewhere. In reality, the US has long provoked conflict with Russia and is doing the same with China. Canada shouldn’t blindly follow US policy towards Moscow or Beijing. Nor should Ottawa back any US war with Iran, imperialism in Haiti or regime change efforts in Venezuela. Canadians’ deserve a major political party that doesn’t automatically assist a nation with 800 military bases around the world.
Canada should also reject Trump’s pressure to increase military spending. Trump is pushing Ottawa to spend even more on the armed forces because Canada’s military usually acts as an appendage of the US empire.
In responding to Trump Canada can learn from Mexico, which is equally dependent on US trade, but has a more independent foreign policy and spends far less on its military than Canada. Leftist President Claudia Sheinbaum immediately responded to Trump’s tariff threats by threatening equivalent countermeasures and saying fentanyl was principally a US problem and American guns spurred violence in Mexico. The bully backed off Mexico while ramping up his rhetorical assault on an overly deferential Canada.
Irrespective of Trump’s moves on tariffs, Canada must distance itself from Donald Trump’s USA. The NDP should advocate for an independent Canadian foreign policy.
Photo credit: Image by Canadian Dimension, adapted from a photo by Tyler Merbler/Flickr.
