After almost 86 years, the Permanent Joint Board on Defense is “pausing” its operations, the Department of War announced Tuesday. According to Elbridge Colby, under secretary of war for policy, it is time to reassess America’s defense relationship with Canada because of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s lack of progress on “defense commitments” and his roving eye that increasingly favors the uncertain defense dilettantism of Europe over the sober military objectives of the US.
Although the consequences of this action are uncertain at this time, they could be grave and are certainly a result of Carney’s irresponsible and, at times, bizarre defense posturing. This could conceivably lead to Canada's expulsion from the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command.
The defense board was arguably the impetus for NORAD and has guaranteed the mutual borders of the US and Canada from foreign invaders. The agreement was signed in August 1940, between President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Willliam Lyon Mackenzie King when Canada was almost one year into the Second World War and the US was deeply isolationist and completely unwilling to intervene either in Europe against Nazi Germany or in the far East against Japan. Roosevelt did everything he could to ignore Congress and the Neutrality Act but it would take the “infamy” of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor for the US to enter the war.
But, according to Colby, Canada isn’t the same steady ally that it was in 1940. “A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments. DoW is pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense,” he wrote on X.
“We can no longer avoid the gaps between rhetoric and reality. Real powers must sustain our rhetoric with shared defense and security responsibilities,” he continued.
“Delivering on shared continental defense begins by recognizing our shared geography. Only by investing in our own defense capabilities will Americans and Canadians be safe, secure, and prosperous.”
It’s not that Carney hasn’t been working assiduously for this kind of reproach. He has treated Canada’s largest trading partner and closest military ally with a contempt that borders on an obsessive mania. Despite his worshipful appearances at the Oval Office, when Carney has sycophantically called Trump both “transformative” and "transformational" as a president, Carney exploits a base anti-American fervour that is not rampant among Canadians but nonetheless a political dynamic that has surfaced throughout the complex relationship of the US and Canada.
But Carney really went over the top in April in an advertised speech to the nation that was little more than a rant against the US and President Donald Trump.
While reminiscing about the glory of the War of 1812—a conflict between the US and Canada that is almost forgotten by both nations— Carney did his damndest to alienate Trump and all Americans.
“Canada strong is our plan to build Canada by Canadians. For Canadians, we'll attract new investment so we can build more for ourselves, striking new partnerships abroad, so we can sell into new markets. It's about taking back control of our security, our borders and our future,” Carney continued, all of the usual ums and uhs deftly removed in editing.
“There are some who say there's no need for a comprehensive plan. They believe we should wait it out in the hope that the United States will return to normal, that the good old days will come back. But hope isn't a plan, and nostalgia is not a strategy, and the days that young Canadians have known all their lives haven't been that good,” Carney said.
Canada’s defense relationship with the US was already precarious. US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is fond of noting that Canada’s participation in NORAD could be imperilled if it fails to buy all of the 88 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets it committed to purchasing. Carney and Defence Minister David McGuinty have talked about buying the Swedish Saab Gripen in addition to the F-35.
That’s a really stupid idea since no one that Canada trains with or flies with uses the Gripen. The US Air Force, Navy and Marines all fly the F-35 – as do Canada’s other principal allies, the UK and Australia.
And don’t be fooled by Carney’s claim that Canada has finally fulfilled its promise to NATO to spend 2% of its GDP on defense needs. There was absolutely no reference to that alleged spending in the Apr. 28 Spring Economic Update and you will never believe how Carney and company define defense spending. According to media reports, the Liberal government is actually including the cost of landscaping at Canadian Forces bases as proof of its defense spending largesse. Even worse, the Carney regime also links new civilian airports and marine ports and improvements to existing ones to defense spending.
Recruitment is up within the Canadian Armed Forces but incredibly that is only because Carney is now allowing non-citizens to join as officers. According to a leaked memo from one outraged Canadian Army officer who is a Canadian citizen, the plan has been a disaster with recruits showing no loyalty to Canada or comprehension of its values and heritage.
Keep it up, Carney. You’re on the verge of destroying Canada’s relationship with the US and its military as well.
