Canada is taking an outsized role in the construction of the post-American world
Canada's Pivot in a Post-American Era
By Andrew Coyne | Published July 10, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney during the NATO Summit in Ankara.
The Ritual of the Modern Summit
In the era of Donald Trump, international gatherings of democratic nations have developed a predictable, almost rhythmic, pattern of behavior.
- The Prelude: Before the U.S. President arrives, the atmosphere is one of conviviality. Leaders of similar ideological leanings engage in friendly photo-ops, urgent side-bars, and open sessions characterized by mutual agreement.
- The Arrival: Once the President touches down, the mood shifts to a frantic effort to manage the resulting turbulence.
- The Damage Control: Diplomats scramble to frame the President's erratic outbursts—which often dismantle previously agreed-upon terms and ignore decades of established international law—as being in "perfect harmony" with the collective goals of the group.
The Ankara Summit: Expectations vs. Reality
The recent meeting in Ankara was designed as a choreographed demonstration of solidarity for Ukraine and a signal of Europe's commitment to its own security. The goal was to satisfy the terms of the 2025 Hague agreement: .
However, the reality was far more chaotic. Trump had spent months mocking NATO leaders, specifically criticizing their lack of involvement in the Iran war—a conflict that falls entirely outside NATO's core purpose.
Trump's "Shopping List" of Demands:
- The acquisition of
Greenland. - A trade boycott against Spain.
- Threats to completely withdraw U.S. support.
Despite the turmoil, the official closing statement was a masterpiece of diplomatic fiction. It claimed an "ironclad" commitment to Article 5, acknowledged the "long-term threat" of Russia, and noted that Canada and European allies had boosted defense spending by:
"They said, ‘We love, sir, we love you.’ These are grown people saying that, isn’t that nice? Every one of those countries, they love us, they love each other." — Donald Trump
The Fragile Veneer of Security
While the summit appeared successful on paper, the underlying cracks are widening. In a normal era, reaffirming Article 5 would be redundant. Today, it is a desperate plea.
| Public Narrative | Private Reality |
|---|---|
| Article 5 is "ironclad" | Profound doubt regarding U.S. willingness to defend allies |
| Alliance is unified | Certainty in NATO circles that the U.S. might not act |
| Russia is the primary threat | The U.S. itself is becoming a source of instability |
The Canadian Crisis
For Canada, the situation is more than just diplomatic friction; it is existential. Reports from The Wall Street Journal have highlighted a phone call where Trump allegedly threatened Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with the abrogation of the Treaty of 1908, which defines the Canada-U.S. border.
Since 1867, Canada has never had to seriously consider the possibility that a U.S. President might attempt to negotiate seize Canadian territory.
The Cost of Dependency
Historically, the U.S. was Canada's benefactor—our primary protector and largest trading partner. However, this relationship created a state of "infantilization."
How dependence dulled Canada's edge:
- Defense: We assumed we didn't need to pay for our own security because we had no "natural predators."
- Economy: We neglected productivity, relying on the ease of shipping raw commodities south.
- Internal Unity: We tolerated interprovincial trade barriers and provincial secessionist threats.
def canada_status(dependency_level):
if dependency_level == "High":
return "Infantilized: Low productivity, low defense spending"
else:
return "Mature: Self-reliant, competitive, secure"
print(canada_status("High"))
# Output: Infantilized: Low productivity, low defense spending
A New Path Forward
While the prospect of a "post-American world" is terrifying, it also presents a unique opportunity for Canada to finally grow up. We can no longer rely on the U.S. for our safety; in fact, we must now prepare for the possibility of defending ourselves from them.
Canada's New Strategic Checklist:
- Increase independent defense capabilities
- Fix internal interprovincial trade barriers
- Diversify trade beyond the U.S. orbit
- Address the productivity gap
