Yes, Canada can join the EU if there’s enough public support. We do not need to draw these arbitrary lines due to geography. As we align culturally and politically in a lot of ways.
Yeah, I don’t think the EU would be able to provide serious military assistance if there was ever a war between Canada and the US. But that’s no different from Canada’s position in the British Commonwealth. Canada would join with the implicit understanding that the EU security guarantees would be largely symbolic. Canada joining the EU would all be about the common customs union, the free movement of people, etc. In this context, geography is less important than having countries with similar political systems and development levels. It’s hard to see really poor countries being admitted to the EU, as that would cause a flood of immigration. And of course there are standards in regards to democratic systems, civil rights, etc. But Canada should have no problem meeting those requirements. And Canada would fit well within the range of EU countries in terms of GDP per capita. There wouldn’t be some vast exodus of Canadians moving to the mainland Europe if Canada was admitted to the EU.
The thing is, those are maybe the size of a medium size city if you add all of them together (read: easy to evacuate if necessary). And unimportant enough that they would likely be relatively safe anyway in case of a war. Neither is true for Canada.
Eh. Canada is already part of the British Commonwealth. In theory, in the event of any invasions, the British crown is supposed to come to Canada’s aid. But realistically, in a war with the US, there wouldn’t be much the UK government could really do about it unless it wanted to start throwing nukes around. 1812 was a long time ago. The Royal Navy is not going to sink the US Navy and force supply lines open. Britain isn’t torching the White House the second time around. The red coats aren’t coming to save Canadian independence. Today, the US’s military capabilities absolutely dwarf those of the UK. In Canada’s case, the Commonwealth’s security guarantees are largely symbolic, at least in the scenario of a US invasion.
Canada in the EU would be a similar model. It would mostly just be about the customs union, free trade, free movement of people, etc. Sure, nominally, the EU would be required to defend Canada in the event of an attack against its territory. But in practice there really wouldn’t be much the EU could do.
But that’s no reason not to do it. I see no reason Canada couldn’t join the EU. There would be immense immediate benefits in terms of economy, culture, trade, and all the other peacetime benefits of EU integration. Yes, the defense guarantees the EU provides would be largely symbolic in Canada’s case. But it’s not like joining the EU would make Canada less safe.
I mean, the EU already has territory near the North American continent. and in South America.
Yes, Canada can join the EU if there’s enough public support. We do not need to draw these arbitrary lines due to geography. As we align culturally and politically in a lot of ways.
Yeah, I don’t think the EU would be able to provide serious military assistance if there was ever a war between Canada and the US. But that’s no different from Canada’s position in the British Commonwealth. Canada would join with the implicit understanding that the EU security guarantees would be largely symbolic. Canada joining the EU would all be about the common customs union, the free movement of people, etc. In this context, geography is less important than having countries with similar political systems and development levels. It’s hard to see really poor countries being admitted to the EU, as that would cause a flood of immigration. And of course there are standards in regards to democratic systems, civil rights, etc. But Canada should have no problem meeting those requirements. And Canada would fit well within the range of EU countries in terms of GDP per capita. There wouldn’t be some vast exodus of Canadians moving to the mainland Europe if Canada was admitted to the EU.
The thing is, those are maybe the size of a medium size city if you add all of them together (read: easy to evacuate if necessary). And unimportant enough that they would likely be relatively safe anyway in case of a war. Neither is true for Canada.
Eh. Canada is already part of the British Commonwealth. In theory, in the event of any invasions, the British crown is supposed to come to Canada’s aid. But realistically, in a war with the US, there wouldn’t be much the UK government could really do about it unless it wanted to start throwing nukes around. 1812 was a long time ago. The Royal Navy is not going to sink the US Navy and force supply lines open. Britain isn’t torching the White House the second time around. The red coats aren’t coming to save Canadian independence. Today, the US’s military capabilities absolutely dwarf those of the UK. In Canada’s case, the Commonwealth’s security guarantees are largely symbolic, at least in the scenario of a US invasion.
Canada in the EU would be a similar model. It would mostly just be about the customs union, free trade, free movement of people, etc. Sure, nominally, the EU would be required to defend Canada in the event of an attack against its territory. But in practice there really wouldn’t be much the EU could do.
But that’s no reason not to do it. I see no reason Canada couldn’t join the EU. There would be immense immediate benefits in terms of economy, culture, trade, and all the other peacetime benefits of EU integration. Yes, the defense guarantees the EU provides would be largely symbolic in Canada’s case. But it’s not like joining the EU would make Canada less safe.