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Gary McCoy Shiloh, IL

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Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 20, 2025 Canada must reconsider its reliance on the U.S. for defence as geopolitical tensions and procurement challenges prompt a strategic reassessment. Canada's Defense Dilemma: Rethinking Reliance on Uncle Sam For many years after World War II, Canada counted on the United States as a reliable ally, keeping our borders safe and secure. This close bond, strengthened by common values and strong trade ties, allowed Canada to focus on other important issues while relying on American military power. However, the world has changed a lot, and recent events make it clear that Canada needs to rethink how much it relies on the U.S. for defence. News: Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington, says minister https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/f35-blair-trump-1.7484477 The presidency of Donald Trump has put a strain on this long-standing friendship. His administration's lack of respect for trade agreements, like the USMCA, and the introduction of tough trade tariffs have put a dent in our economic relationship. On top of that, Trump's unsettling comments about Canada becoming the "51st state" and his friendly stance towards leaders like Vladimir Putin add to the complexity. In this uncertain environment, Canada must carefully navigate its defence and security policies. A major issue at hand is Canada's plan to buy F-35 fighter jets, which has sparked a lot of debate. While these jets are meant to modernize Canada's aging air fleet, relying on U.S.-controlled technology poses risks. The possibility that a future U.S. administration could deny necessary software updates for political reasons highlights the danger of depending too heavily on one supplier. Canada must look at other options for defence partnerships and diversify where it gets its military equipment. The Swedish Gripen, for example, offers benefits like local assembly and less reliance on U.S. maintenance. Thi