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Or sign-in if you have an account.Canadians' pugnaciousness toward the U.S. may not last long if Canadian troops stationed in Latvia were to be dragged into another European war. Photo by Cpl. Lynette Ai Dang/eFP BG Latvia Public Affairs and Imagery Section/Canadian Armed ForcesThe United States has informed its European allies of its plan to significantly cut its military contribution to NATO, the German news outlet Spiegel reported on Tuesday.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe Europeans are scuttling to fill the gaps that will be left by departing American warships and fighter jets.But the ripple effects may be felt far beyond Eastern Europe.Could, for example, we see the Conservative party in Canada adopt a more transactional approach to NATO that would see it propose to divert resources from Europe to reinforce North America?That would seem to be a logical extension of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s trade and foreign policy — a clear departure from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to seek deeper integration with Europe.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAs part of this strategic realignment, Canada has tried to diversify its alliances, joining the Security Action for Europe defence initiative and signing the Security and Defence Partnership. This has led to some speculation that Carney intends to deepen ties by applying to join the European Union, something he has explicitly ruled out, saying “that is not the pathway we are on.”But as the Liberals try to push Canada into Europe’s orbit, it would make sense for the Conservatives to focus on tightening trade and defence ties to the U.S.Conservatives suggest those discussions are already happening, as the Canadian-led brigade in Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance is increasingly at the forefront of a potential flashpoint with Russia.The Conservatives campaigned in the last election on rebuilding Canada’s military capacity in the North, establishing a permanent Arctic base in Iqaluit. At the same time, they pledged to “strengthen alliances and ties with countries that share our values.”But as Carney has rejected what he calls President Donald Trump’s “weaponization” of economic integration and pivoted toward European allies, Poilievre has been far more placatory toward the White House.Last week, the Conservative leader called on Carney to override the Canada Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), after it sought to force American streaming giants such as Netflix to pay more of their Canadian revenues to fund homegrown content.Poilievre argued that the cost would be passed on to consumers and could invite U.S. retaliation, but it had the added benefit of making him sound more accommodating toward the Americans.“I don’t think we’re becoming more Trumpian. I think it’s about being realistic and recognizing our geography and our own leverage,” said one Conservative MP.In a speech, the Conservative leader gave in New York in March, he said he disagreed with Carney’s claim that relations with the U.S. have been “ruptured.”“I reject the idea that we can afford to treat the current and real problems as a permanent end to our relationship. They are not. We have an incredible friendship. We live next door to each other and geography is permanent,” he said.Poilievre said his goal is to renew the trade deal with the U.S., end tariffs and supply more oil, lumber, aluminum and critical minerals for American industry to process.Rebuilding relations would require the Canadian Forces to be able to protect “every square inch of sea, sky and soil” in the North. “We understand we have to do more to keep your northern flank secure,” he told the American audience.Last week, the U.S. said it was “pausing” involvement in the Second World War-era Permanent Joint Board of Defence, and over the weekend a U.S. defence official briefed journalists that the Pentagon had laid out its priorities for collective North American security but Ottawa did not deliver a “credible” response.That lack of response has added to frustration in Washington at Canada’s delayed decision around the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, a U.S. defence official said.A proposal by Poilievre to more closely mirror U.S. policy in Europe, and divert resources to the homeland, could ease some of those concerns.Carney’s “elbows up” response remains popular with Canadians, but things change.If Canadian troops become involved in a shooting war in Latvia, or if the government fails to reach an agreement to renew the free-trade deal with the Americans, a more isolationist policy that tries to accommodate Trump could start to gain favour with voters.For now, economic patriotism remains popular, as does the sense that Canada’s interests are best protected by contributing to international security.A survey on attitudes to defence and security, commissioned late last year by the University of Calgary and conducted by Nanos Research, said that 57 per cent of Canadians believed Canada should support NATO militarily in the event of a conflict with Russia. The same number disagreed with the statement that Canada’s interests are best protected by avoiding conflict at all costs.Canadians are in a feisty mood and view the U.S. and Trump as the country’s biggest threats.But that pugnaciousness may not last long if Canadian troops stationed in Latvia were to be dragged into another European war.If Poilievre truly believes that Carney is losing the trade battle, and his foreign policy is misguided, it’s time he offered a clear alternative.National Post Get the latest from John Ivison straight to your inbox Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.