Why Canada Should Join the U.S. Missile Defense Program: Ballistic Missiles Threaten Both Countries

• Published in: Policy File 2014
• Main Author: Dodge, Michaela
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: Military strategy; The Heritage Foundation

Canada and the United States have shared a special relationship for decades. Cooperation between these neighbors has resulted in one of the most successful international partnerships in history. A significant amount of this relationship has involved security cooperation, with Canada participating in the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Despite the many accomplishments in collaborative national security measures between the U.S. and Canada, one area still falls short: Meaningful missile defense cooperation has been rejected by the Canadian government on several occasions, most recently in 2005. Canada and the U.S. could greatly benefit from a missile defense partnership. Increasing threats of a ballistic missile attack from North Korea and Iran necessitate more robust missile defense mechanisms in order to protect the North American continent. Collaborating on this issue would permit the two nations' leaders to alleviate some of the burdens that missile defense programs entail and provide them with another means of protecting their citizens. Canada should recognize the threat, and benefits, and participate in U.S. long-range missile defense programs.