For years, Finland, bordering the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation and so depending on it somewhat economically, has never joined NATO and, for its own economic interests, had to remain somewhat neutral towards both NATO and the Warsaw Pact and now towards both NATO and the Russian Federation.
Due to its precarious situation, NATO countries have always been somewhat understanding of its economic predicament and so promoted close ties with it without necessarily expecting it to reciprocate on the military and other such fronts.
Now it would seem Canada might find itself in a similar situation. As the EU, Japan, and other states drift away from the US and start to forge their own relationships with each other, Canada will still continue to depend on the US and so, like Finland towards the USSR and now the Russian Federation, will need to maintain close ties with the US while trying to maintain close ties with the other states too. We can hope that just as we've always understood and embraced Finland in the face of its difficult predicament, that the other states will do the same to Canada.
Could Canada become the new Finland?
Due to its precarious situation, NATO countries have always been somewhat understanding of its economic predicament and so promoted close ties with it without necessarily expecting it to reciprocate on the military and other such fronts.
Now it would seem Canada might find itself in a similar situation. As the EU, Japan, and other states drift away from the US and start to forge their own relationships with each other, Canada will still continue to depend on the US and so, like Finland towards the USSR and now the Russian Federation, will need to maintain close ties with the US while trying to maintain close ties with the other states too. We can hope that just as we've always understood and embraced Finland in the face of its difficult predicament, that the other states will do the same to Canada.
Could Canada become the new Finland?