The Canadian military recently modeled a hypothetical American invasion of the country and reviewed different responses to the United States deploying troops across the border, Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday.
The Globe and Mail cited two senior government officials who said the Canadian military is working on a step-by-step plan to respond to a U.S. incursion. The officials reportedly stressed that the model is not a specific military plan, adding that it remains unlikely that the United States would actually launch an offensive operation against its neighbor to the north.
Canada’s reported preparations come as President Donald Trump ramps up his efforts to acquire Greenland and continues to float the idea of taking control of Canada. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump shared a photo of an Oval Office meeting with leaders of European nations, and in the background, the image was altered to show a map of the United States controlling Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela.
Canada’s military pales in comparison to America’s fighting force in terms of numbers and firepower. Canada has an estimated 70,000 active-duty personnel and has spent just over 1% of the country’s GDP on the military in recent years. The United States, meanwhile, fields roughly 1.3 million active-duty troops and commands the world’s most sophisticated air power.
To fend off a hypothetical U.S. attack, Canada would rely on small militias of volunteer or civilian fighters, The Globe and Mail reported. The militias would focus on ambushing U.S. forces and using drone attacks. Some of the tactics would mirror how the Taliban fought American and Canadian troops in Afghanistan during the West’s 20-year occupation of the Middle East country, one of the government officials told the Canadian outlet.
Canada, a NATO member, could also rely on its European allies if its sovereignty is threatened.
“You know if you come after Canada, you are going to have the world coming after you, even more than Greenland. People do care about what happens to Canada, unlike Venezuela,” retired Canadian Major General David Fraser told The Globe and Mail. “You could actually see German ships and British planes in Canada to reinforce the country’s sovereignty.”
While Canada prepares a plan for how to fight back against a potential American invasion, the nation’s military maintains a working relationship with the U.S. military. Aircraft from NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada aerospace defense alliance, are set to arrive in Greenland this week for “long-planned … activities” focused on the defense of North America.
Early into his second term, Trump frequently floated the idea of Canada becoming the “51st state.” Shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took over as the country’s leader, Trump said “it would be much better for Canada” to become part of the United States, prompting Carney to shoot back and say that Canada “won’t be for sale, ever.”
In May, Trump said that the United States would protect Canada under the president’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system for a $61 billion fee. Or, Trump offered to provide missile defense for Canada for “ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State.”
Trump also enraged Canadian leaders and residents shortly after being sworn in for his second term when he imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian products.
As Trump focuses on acquiring Greenland, America’s NATO allies are scrambling to negotiate with the United States while also standing firm on red lines they have drawn for Greenland. Multiple NATO countries have sent troops to Greenland to conduct military exercises amid Trump’s threats to take over the territory. Canada is also considering sending a small contingent of soldiers to Greenland to take part in the exercises, Reuters reported.
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