Canada- the daughter of Britain holds a special tie with the USA. It may be a daughter to Britain but it is married to the US. It shares such a majestical bond with the US that doesn’t hold any chance of separation. It must not be surprising to know that the US holds a significant economic interest in Canada but what is surprising is the fact, that USA is still ignorant of the country. You heard that.
Do you happen to remember how school geographies would often depict the various territories of the British Empire in red? It’s quite possible that you also recall that the largest red area on the world map happened to be located just north of the United States. On a related note, did you ever find it interesting how the Dominion of Canada was represented on the map of the USA? It was quite striking to see this vast, empty white space extending from the Great Lakes and the 49th parallel all the way up to the very top of the map.
Regrettably, a significant number of Americans have lacked knowledge about Canada, much like that blank white space on the map. As a nation, the USA has demonstrated remarkable ignorance of the country that they have the greatly invested in, the country that shares its borders with US and the country whose people share the closest relationship with them.
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It’s a well known fact that America’s trade ties with Canada are notable, with both import and export being much greater than any other country in the world. Despite the fact, America and Americans have kept on turning a blind eye towards their closest relatives. If you might have noticed it has long been a trend of every historic US president to pay a visit to their neighbour Up North.
Be it, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, every president has paid their first visit to Canada. USA presidents have travelled to Canada 41 times since 1906, whether on business, pleasure, or both, according to the Office of the U.S. Historian. But, that trend has come to a halt after Biden took charge of the baton. Canada is still waiting to host Biden.
STEPHEN AZZI, professor and the author of Reconcilable Differences: A History of Canada–USA Relations, says Biden’s most important contribution to Canadians has been to bring stability to the U.S. government after the Trump years.
“Canada is heavily influenced by American money and culture, but also by American politics,” Azzi tells Playbook via email. “When the American government is dismissive of its allies and its treaties, that has an enormous impact on Canada. When democracy is under attack in Washington, we worry — and rightly so — that it might soon be under attack in Ottawa.”
But, surprisingly Joe Biden hasn’t made any visits to his best friend and neighbour yet. You see, JB and JT contest on a similar template. They share similar values on social policy, Ukraine, the environment and even their liberal propaganda which is why we can’t imagine these two being in the same room and not getting along well with each other. Then why is Joe Biden avoiding meeting the Canadian Prime Minister? Is it because the USA has now started taking Canada for granted? The reason behind being- the sense of security. The US feels so secure of never losing Canada from its side.
Militarily, Canada depends on America a lot less than one would think. An exception was during the Cold War, in which Canada enjoyed the benefit of American nuclear weapons and NATO membership.
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Other than that? An invasion of Canada by any enemy (other than the United States) is unachievable. If it became achievable, Canada’s investment in its military would increase. Canada did the USA a big favour from 1914 to 1917 and from 1939 to 1942 (when it fought America’s enemies without American help) and from 2001 to 2011 (when it fought in Afghanistan for the United States’ sake).
Moreover, the US has been eyeing Canada as a friendly, law-abiding, prosperous nation, attached to it. Trade and military alliance also becomes an important aspect of their relationship. Over the years USA has successfully created an obedient pet in the name of Canada, who can be made to dance according to the whims and fancies of the Oval Office. It does sound strange, but hey truth is stranger than fiction. It has been sub consciously embedded in the US’ policy making, that no matter what it does, Canada will supportive. Does this attitude scream of taking someone for granted? Oh yes it does.
This status quo can only change with the change in leadership on either side of the border and that too from opposing political ideology. Clearly, present Canada is a puppet and the US has become its puppet-master who is making Canada dance to its tunes. It is time for Canadians to ensure that they have a leader who is not a puppet.
