Canada, beware: The United States' recent actions in Venezuela should serve as a stark wake-up call, signaling that no nation in the Western Hemisphere is immune to its expanding influence. But here's where it gets controversial: Could Canada be next on the menu? That’s the alarming question raised by Bob Rae, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, who warns that the U.S. under President Donald Trump is abandoning multilateralism in favor of unilateral dominance, with little regard for international law.
In a candid interview with Global News, Rae, who concluded his five-year ambassadorship last November, painted a sobering picture of U.S. foreign policy. He argues that Trump’s administration is operating under the mantra, ‘We will do whatever we can get away with, and who’s going to stop us?’ This approach, Rae warns, effectively gives the U.S. a green light to intervene in any country it perceives as an obstacle. ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore,’ he cautioned. ‘This is a new ballgame, and we need to grasp the full implications.’
Trump’s revival of the Monroe Doctrine—a 200-year-old policy asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere—has already sent shockwaves across the region. His administration’s recent seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, coupled with threats against Greenland, Colombia, and Cuba, underscores the doctrine’s modern-day application. While Canada hasn’t faced renewed threats of becoming the 51st U.S. state, Rae insists this doesn’t mean Canadians should breathe easy. ‘We’re on the menu,’ he bluntly stated. ‘Ignoring this reality just because Trump hasn’t explicitly mentioned annexation is a dangerous oversight.’
And this is the part most people miss: Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, recently declared on CNN that the ‘future of the free world depends on America asserting its interests without apology.’ Coupled with a U.S. State Department post proclaiming ‘this is OUR hemisphere,’ these statements reveal a mindset that challenges the sovereignty of nations like Canada. Experts like Fen Osler Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, warn that Canada risks being reduced from a sovereign neighbor to a ‘junior resource appendage’ of the U.S., with its energy infrastructure, mineral reserves, and Arctic resources all on the line.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, while acknowledging the benefits of a stable Venezuelan economy for the hemisphere, has stopped short of directly criticizing U.S. actions. His focus on maintaining Canada’s competitiveness in oil and energy exports highlights the delicate balance Ottawa must strike. Yet, as Hampson points out, Canada’s silence on Venezuela weakens its moral standing to condemn similar actions by Russia in Ukraine or China in Taiwan, all under the guise of international law.
Here’s the burning question: Is Canada doing enough to protect its sovereignty and independence? Rae argues that a more forceful response is needed, urging Canadians to engage in a broader conversation about their nation’s future. ‘We can’t afford to stay silent,’ he said. ‘The Americans are dictating our future, and we’re not pushing back. That silence must end.’
As the U.S. continues to flex its muscles, the stakes for Canada—and the world—couldn’t be higher. Will Canada stand united with its allies to resist this wave of imperialism, or will it succumb to the pressure? The answer may well determine its fate as an independent nation. What do you think? Is Canada doing enough to safeguard its sovereignty, or is it time for a bolder stance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
