Geoff Russ: Canada must reforge its relationship with its oldest friend, Britain

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment Geoff Russ: Canada must reforge its relationship with its oldest friend, Britain The American relationship has always been fickle, but Canada is not without friends Author of the article: By Geoff Russ Published Sep 22, 2026 Last updated 16 minutes ago 5 minute read Join the conversation Well wishers look on before the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a Lansdowne Park community event in Ottawa, Canada, May 26, 2025. PHOTO BY DAVE CHAN /AFP via Getty Images Article content Last week, a column for The London Daily Telegraph declared that there should be “no doubt” that Britain should back Canada in its trade dispute with the United States. Article content It was penned by Daniel Hannan, the president of the Institute of Economic Affairs and an independent peer in the House of Lords, who wrote that the “true ‘special relationship’ is between Britain and Canada.” Article content Article content Article content Perhaps there is something to that. It is true that Canada and the United States share vast cultural and political similarities. The same is true of Croatia and Serbia and of India and Pakistan. Article content Channel Israel Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Donald Trump has shredded the continental relationship, and a Democrat is unlikely to repair it. As noted by Ben Woodfinden in the Post last month, it was Joe Biden who cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office. Economic hostility is still hostility, even when delivered in a kindly tone. Article content Britain should occupy a larger place in our thinking about the future. Deepening our existing ties and strengthening our alliance would enable our two countries to act together, rather than only reacting to the White House, regardless of who sits in it. Article content Obviously, Britain does not rival American hegemonic power. However, the British have an active nuclear deterrent, significant global financial reach, and a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Article content To name only two ways of deepening British-Canadian ties,…