🧵The announcement by Canadian PM @MarkJCarney of a reset in Canada-China ties accompanied by a trade deal of dramatic proportions will likely go down in history as a major political blunder. But don't listen to me: Premier Doug Ford of Ontario already denounced the deal. 1/9
Anger, however justified, should never be the principal driver of policy. This is true both about our Canadian brethren, and true about our European allies. We are living through a rocky transformation of the international system, but the geopolitical realities remain. 2/9
It is at times like this that we need cooler heads to prevail, and when we need leaders who can focus on the foundational principles of what constitutes our civilization. It defies reason that Canada would invite an Asian communist state to set up shop in North America. 3/9
Canada is culturally a close relative of the United States (we joke that "Canadians are Americans with health insurance."). Canada is vital to US security. Our common border is not much more than a line on the map-we've been always close and connected. These are the realties. 4/9
Economic or cultural issues aside, the United States is critical to the security and defense of Canada. Let's not forget that while Canada's population is only around 42 million, it is the world's second-largest country by total area covering approx.3.85 million square miles.5/9
Canada spans nearly half of the North American continent, with the world's longest coastline and six time zones. In a nutshell, Canada needs a strong alliance with United States to ensure national security, and conversely, America needs Canada to secure its neighborhood. 6/9
Alliances are built based on common threats and common interests, with shared values reinforcing if not driving their formation. The US-Canada alliance ticks off all three. So, riddle me this: Why would Canada endanger this alliance by inviting China into our neighborhood? 7/9
Again, anger-justified or not-should never define foundational policy choices. As I always repeat when I speak in Europe: Europeans do not have a relationship with this or that US President, this or that party; they have a vital security relationship with the United States. 8/9
I would say exactly the same thing to our Canadian friends. Let's reflect on how we got to this place and course correct. And I would add that statecraft is never easy, and that we need leaders who can rise up to the challenge because the future of the West is at stake. 9/End
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