Does Canada wish to direct its own future plans, or kowtow to the demands of much more powerful partners?

BY STEVEN KASZAB

The Military Partnership between the US, United Kingdom and Australia are responding to the military presence within the Indo-Pacific Region by Communist China. Canada may be invited to this organization with certain demands placed upon membership such as:

• Canada drives its expenditure upon its military to 2%+ GDP.
• Canada must purchase nuclear submarines.
• Canada must share its: military, security and intelligence with these partners, and they with Canada.
• Canadian Military personnel must participate in combined military action’ with its partners.
• Canadian Diplomatic Overtures must be allied with its partners to create a united front to Chinese challenges.

Many within the Canadian Government see major implications to membership. The financial cost to membership is staggering to a small nation such as Canada. Canada has not paid in full its financial obligations to organizations such as N.A.T.O.

There is a distinct possibility that America will demand placement of their nuclear arsenal on Canadian soil.

Being a member of AUKUS will make the Canadian military further subjected to foreign intelligence activities. The very principle of shared intelligence among the partners will have: Russian, Chinese and other Intelligence Agencies center upon Canadian operations. The very cost of anti-intelligence programs will be significant for Canada.

Canadian Military Brass do not have the funds necessary to maintain a nuclear submarine, let alone needing one. Canada’s Battleship Fleet is unfitted, high in maintenance, and subjected to international scrutiny, without having a pricey submarine added to fleet needs.

Being a member of AUKUS has its advantages, particularly the assistance Canada will receive protecting its Arctic land claims, and present-day territory. Shared intelligence will have its pros and cons for Canada.

Canada’s Liberal Government needs to openly submit its policy, vision and attitude towards its foreign policy and membership in such organizations as AUKUS. Are we champions of peace, or will Canadians allow the war hawks of: America, U.K. and Australia to dictate terms? While America continues to fund its military’s growth Canada has found difficulties in promising and financing anti-war efforts internationally.

The Conservative’s Pierre Poilievre would have no problem joining their like-minded partners in AUKUS, but Justin Trudeau’s Liberals look at both the military and foreign policy differently, pragmatically.

Groucho Marx once said, “I refuse to join a club that would have me as a member.” Does Canada wish to direct its own future plans, or kowtow to the demands of much more powerful “partners?