Gransnet forums

News & politics

Shoul we consider something like the Canadian proposal?

(49 Posts)
PoliticsNerd Mon 24-Feb-25 09:22:15

US/Canada trade is worth over $800 billion annually. Any disruption could shock the economies of both countries. Trump may have expected Canada to back down but they have hit back, imposing retaliatory tariffs, expanding new markets and strengthening relations with the EU, to protect their economic interests.

We (our country) need to look at following their example. If the Trump US is no longer to be trusted in trade or foreign policies we too need to look at strengthening other ties. I believe our government is doing just this while maintaining diplomatic ties with the US. So far, so good.

GrannaKaye Tue 25-Feb-25 15:49:55

As Canada is a NATO member, please do not leave us out of any changed North Atlantic alliance!

wibblywobblywobblebottom Tue 25-Feb-25 15:55:51

Trump is a bully and hopes people will back down. If they don't then he's in trouble.

Cossy Tue 25-Feb-25 15:58:29

M0nica

There is no way about it, in the future, in fact as from now, Europe can only look to Europe for its defence.

We need to boot the US out of NATO, (push it before it jumps), change the name to the ETO (European Treaty Organisation) open it to all countries in Europe whether they are members of the EU or not. This would include other countries threatened by the Russia/US axis, Moldavia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, all of us beef up our defence spending so that we turn the new ETO into a credible defence unit.

We need to end all dependence on the US for defence materials. Develop our own fighter planes, tanks, drones and guns.

Our big enemy now is Trump not Putin and we must play him at his own game.

I agree with almost all of this, but would say our enemy is Trump as well as Putin.

valdali Tue 25-Feb-25 16:38:41

It's annoying that Trump's objection to NATO & policy of getting the wars stopped heavy-handedly & with no regards to future repercussions, seems to be driven by his objection to spending loads of money on defence.
However he is ramping up global insecurity by his way of going about things & this is going to lead to MORE money worldwide going on defence. Hopefully not purchasing armaments from USA in the process though.

Arto1s Tue 25-Feb-25 19:30:24

Yes; cut ties with the US. Europe and the UK never do anything for us as far as I can tell.

petra Tue 25-Feb-25 19:59:22

Arto1s

Yes; cut ties with the US. Europe and the UK never do anything for us as far as I can tell.

This thread on Quora might answer your question.

www.quora.com/What-has-the-UK-ever-done-for-the-USA

rocketship Tue 25-Feb-25 22:23:29

GrannaKaye

As Canada is a NATO member, please do not leave us out of any changed North Atlantic alliance!

YES!! CANADA IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF NATO!!

[smile[ smile smile

Allira Tue 25-Feb-25 23:27:08

Maremia

Think it might be true that the only time NATO came to the defence of one of its Members was after 9/11, when the USA invoked the relevant clause. Ironic.
Now if Canada joined, it could still be called NATO.

I understood that Canada was a founding member of NATO, along with Iceland, which is most definitely in the North Atlantic.

Allira Tue 25-Feb-25 23:27:50

X post rocketship 🙂

nanna8 Wed 26-Feb-25 02:12:50

Well it wouldn’t be the first time the UK was pitted against the US. War of independence? I can’t really see it happening though. Trump has British roots, he loves the Scottish stuff.

Arto1s Wed 26-Feb-25 02:53:42

petra most of that is past history. Since the Second World War is what is relevant today.

Lovetopaint037 Wed 26-Feb-25 04:39:56

MaizieD

OldFrill

Maybe Europe should form a common market and work together.........oh whoops

The irony is that the EU has the excellent 'Single Market', instigated by the UK, and we threw away our membership of it, erecting self defeating trade barriers, with the Brexit vote.

Yes can you remember that little man who struts around like a peacock? You know the friend of Trump and admirer of Putin! Well he did his friends proud and he pulled it off.

M0nica Wed 26-Feb-25 09:07:05

It would be an idea if membership of NATO was granted to Greenland, which is as much, if not more at threat from the US than Canada.

keepingquiet Wed 26-Feb-25 09:12:25

MOnica I agree with everything you say but in addition it is clear Brexit, whatever it stood for (which wasn't much) is now dead in the water...

US leaving NATO? Yes, we could go that way. I like your proposal!

Colls Wed 26-Feb-25 09:51:03

Cossy

Yes, we need to unite with Europe and cut as many ties with the US as we can

Cossy, I totally agree.
The alternative is to snuggle up to a bully.

How easily the 2016 vote was manipulated online by US and Russia with this in mind. That's never been investigated has it.
Not that the EU is perfect, it needs to be reformed, but we have at least some influence there.

petra Wed 26-Feb-25 09:53:16

Arto1s

petra most of that is past history. Since the Second World War is what is relevant today.

It might be past history to you but to the uk with a wealth of history it means a great deal.

petra Wed 26-Feb-25 09:59:42

M0nica

It would be an idea if membership of NATO was granted to Greenland, which is as much, if not more at threat from the US than Canada.

This article states that Greenland is a member of NATO under the agreement with Denmark.

www.norden.org/en/information/facts-about-greenland

Freya5 Wed 26-Feb-25 10:04:07

M0nica

There is no way about it, in the future, in fact as from now, Europe can only look to Europe for its defence.

We need to boot the US out of NATO, (push it before it jumps), change the name to the ETO (European Treaty Organisation) open it to all countries in Europe whether they are members of the EU or not. This would include other countries threatened by the Russia/US axis, Moldavia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, all of us beef up our defence spending so that we turn the new ETO into a credible defence unit.

We need to end all dependence on the US for defence materials. Develop our own fighter planes, tanks, drones and guns.

Our big enemy now is Trump not Putin and we must play him at his own game.

The UK already develops its own aircraft, at the moment focusing on a sixth generation combat aircraft, as part of a GLOBAL initiative with Japan and Italy. As discussed at a meeting outlining the future of our RAF. We do not need to be tied down to the demands of a protectionist EU.

Allira Wed 26-Feb-25 10:16:00

Cossy

Yes, we need to unite with Europe and cut as many ties with the US as we can

Of course we need close links with Europe but I don't think we should burn our bridges and cut ties with the US, nor should Europe.
Trump won't be POTUS for ever.

M0nica Wed 26-Feb-25 11:42:07

petra

M0nica

It would be an idea if membership of NATO was granted to Greenland, which is as much, if not more at threat from the US than Canada.

This article states that Greenland is a member of NATO under the agreement with Denmark.

www.norden.org/en/information/facts-about-greenland

Thank you, but if it was technically possible to make it a member in its own right, it would give it more obvious protection. But I can see the problems, if Greenland why not Scotland, or ......

Jannipans Wed 26-Feb-25 12:18:07

For the first time ever I agree with Trump's ideal of backing his own country. We are in trouble financially so we should do what they did after the war and have a campaign to "Back Britain". Make is easier to choose British produce and goods and put our own economy first.
I tried to buy Welsh lamb not so long ago but there was so little of it and the prices were so much higher than New Zealand lamb that it made the decision hard. Imports of anything should not be more expensive than our own home produced. products

petra Wed 26-Feb-25 12:29:11

Jannipans
Where would you suggest the uk starts to retool the whole manufacturing industry we once had before manufacturers found they could make bigger profits off the backs of poor people all over the world.

M0nica Wed 26-Feb-25 22:16:40

We have also sold most of our manufacturing industry to foreign owners