Graeme Thompson - What Is Canada's Role In The World?

In this conversation from 2025, Alex Aragona speaks with Graeme Thompson about Canada's evolving role on the global stage, from Confederation through to the post-Cold War era and into the geopolitical uncertainties of today. They explore Canada’s historical balancing act between major powers, its close alignment with the United Kingdom and later the United States, and its present-day challenges in maintaining global relevance amid military underinvestment and economic stagnation. Thompson argues that Canada must become more serious about geopolitics if it wants to protect its sovereignty and remain influential internationally.

References

1. “Canadians no longer take geopolitics seriously – and our neglect is going to cost us” by Graeme Thompson (The Hub)
   https://thehub.ca/2024-04-03/graeme-thompson-canadians-no-longer-take-geopolitics-seriously-and-our-neglect-is-going-to-cost-us/

2. Biography Collection: Ogdensburg Agreement and Canadian Wartime Diplomacy (Dictionary of Canadian Biography)
   https://www.biographi.ca/en/topics/topic-match-list.php?id=1504

3. Statute of Westminster (1931) – Recognized Canada’s legislative independence from Britain
   https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/statute-of-westminster

4. NATO Archives: Canada's Role and Early Involvement
   https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_161511.htm

5. Canada–U.S. Automotive Products Agreement (Auto Pact)
   https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-us-automotive-products-agreement

6. Lament for a Nation by George Grant
   https://a.co/d/bnRI7Rb

7. Canada’s Military Expenditure and NATO’s 2% Spending Target (Parliamentary Budget Officer)
   https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publications/RP-2223-010-S--canada-military-expenditure-nato-2-spending-target--depenses-militaires-canada-objectif-depenses-2-otan

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