NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military defensive coalition of European countries, Canada and the United States created in 1949. (Note: although mostly located in Asia, Turkey does have a small land mass in Europe and has been a member of NATO since 1952.)

Maybe the most important Article in the Treaty is Article 5 which basically states that an attack against one NATO member country is considered an attack against all of the countries in NATO, therefore resulting in potential joint military support and action by NATO counties against the invading country or entity.

Lately, there has been a significant amount of tension between two long time neighbours, allies and good friends, the United States and Canada. American President Donald Trump has been rattling Canada`s cage with tariffs, tariff threats, and the desire to have Canada become the fifty-first state in the US. Canada’s valued and immense resource assets are the target.  

This poses a bit of a potential conundrum for NATO. Although one might think it is a stretch, history tells us, repeatedly, that that the unimaginable is quite possible. You only have to look back to Nazi Germany to realize this. The question is, what would NATO do if the US invaded Canada? Well, there is Article 5, but would Europe really come and help Canada against a US incursion?

I just don’t think so for a number of reasons. Canada is just one country, and it’s isolated on the wrong side of “The Pond” (the Atlantic Ocean for those unfamiliar with the term). Add to this the obvious military might of America and the advantages that affords, is any country or group of countries really going to take on the US in defense of Canada? Sadly, the answer is no. I’m sure NATO would want to help defend Canada, but, it is just not feasible. The internal uproars in the NATO countries would be deafening.

Like anything on paper, a treaty is only as effective as a situation allows. If the United States invades Canada, the situation will not allow NATO to act. Remember, as well, the United States is by far the biggest benefactor of NATO. Sorry, Canada.