Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, is warning of consequences to the continental defence pact if Canada does not move forward with the purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets.
- The North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) is a decades-old partnership between Canada and the United States that tracks inbound threats and scrambles armed jets to intercept where appropriate.
- The U.S. may need to purchase more F-35s and fly them more often into Canadian airspace to address threats if Canada does not increase its purchase of the jets.
- Canada is considering purchasing the Swedish-built Gripen fighter jet, which could affect the arrangement with NORAD.
- A former top Canadian national security official describes the ambassador’s remarks as a "political pressure tactic" to force the Canadian government’s hand.
Introduction to the Issue
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, has warned of consequences to the continental defence pact if Canada does not move forward with the purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets. In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Hoekstra stated that NORAD, the North American Air Defence Command, would have to be altered if Canada does not increase its purchase of the jets. This warning has sparked a debate about the future of Canada’s fighter jet fleet and the implications for the country’s defence relationship with the United States.
The Importance of NORAD
NORAD is a decades-old partnership between Canada and the United States that tracks inbound threats and scrambles armed jets to intercept where appropriate. The partnership allows the closest aircraft to respond to threats, and there have been multiple recent instances where the U.S. military has flown into Canada to address threats. For example, in September, American F-15s responded near Calgary after a bomb threat on a German airliner, and two years earlier, an American F-22 shot down a suspicious cylindrical balloon floating over Yukon. The partnership is crucial for the defence of both countries, and any changes to it could have significant implications.
Consequences of Not Purchasing F-35s
According to Hoekstra, if Canada does not increase its purchase of F-35s, the U.S. may need to purchase more of the jets and fly them more often into Canadian airspace to address threats. This could lead to an increase in U.S. military interventions in Canada, which could be a concern for some Canadians. Hoekstra also stated that if Canada decides to purchase the Swedish-built Gripen fighter jet, the arrangement with NORAD would still need to be rethought. The Gripen is considered an inferior product compared to the F-35, and its use could affect the defence capability of both countries.
Reaction to the Warning
The warning from Hoekstra has been met with caution by some, including Andrea Charron, the director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba. Charron stated that public sniping between the two countries only benefits their adversaries and risks undermining the credibility of their shared deterrence. She also noted that political disputes come and go, but NORAD’s mission does not. A former top Canadian national security official, Vincent Rigby, described Hoekstra’s remarks as a "political pressure tactic" to force the Canadian government’s hand.
Alternative Options
Canada is considering purchasing the Swedish-built Gripen fighter jet, which could affect the arrangement with NORAD. A poll by Ekos Politics found that 72% of Canadians support incorporating the Gripen into Canada’s fighter fleet, either by switching to the aircraft for all future purchases or by maintaining a mixed fleet of both Gripens and F-35s. However, having both aircraft would have implications for Canada’s already-stretched air force, which would need to maintain two sets of facilities, pilots, and mechanics on a mixed fleet. Rigby noted that the Gripen is a highly proficient aircraft used by some of Canada’s NATO allies and works well in Arctic conditions.
Implications of the F-35 Purchase
The purchase of the F-35 has implications for Canada’s defence relationship with the United States. The F-35 would allow for easier and greater interoperability with the U.S. Air Force, which is an important consideration both in NORAD and overseas operations. However, some Canadians may view the purchase of the F-35 as a threat, given the recent and repeated talk of the "51st state" and annexing Greenland by U.S. President Donald Trump. Hoekstra denied that the U.S. is a threat, stating that the idea is "crazy." However, the issue highlights the complexities of the defence relationship between the two countries and the need for careful consideration of the implications of any decisions made.
