The military relationship between the United States and Canada has long been shaped by geography, common defense interests, and a foundation of trust. As of the end of 2024, cooperation between the two countries remains extensive and active, but with Donald Trump returning for a second presidential term, the future of that cooperation faces possible adjustments. Understanding where things stand today provides a foundation for analyzing what might shift in the years ahead.
Current State of Military Cooperation
The United States and Canada maintain one of the oldest continuous defense partnerships in the world. Their collaboration spans a wide range of activities, including aerospace defense, land and maritime security, intelligence sharing, and cyber operations. The core structures underpinning this cooperation include the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and a wide assortment of bilateral defense boards and working groups.
NORAD remains the most visible symbol of United States-Canada defense ties. It operates as a bi-national command, staffed by military personnel from both countries who jointly monitor North American airspace and maritime approaches. Recent modernization initiatives have broadened NORAD’s responsibilities to address growing concerns about hypersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and maritime security in Arctic regions.
Canada and the United States also work together within NATO, contributing forces to joint exercises and missions. Though Canada’s defense spending remains lower relative to the United States, Canadian forces are regarded as highly professional and interoperable with their American counterparts. Joint military exercises, training programs, and equipment procurement efforts enhance this interoperability, making it easier for both countries to operate side-by-side in potential conflict scenarios.
Intelligence sharing forms another important aspect of the relationship. As part of the Five Eyes alliance, Canada and the United States share vast quantities of intelligence across domains ranging from cybersecurity to counterterrorism. Cooperative programs also extend into space operations, missile defense research, and Arctic sovereignty initiatives.
Factors Strengthening Current Cooperation
Several long-standing factors keep United States-Canada military relations strong. Shared democratic values, integrated economies, and mutual defense requirements all contribute to a natural alignment of interests. The long, largely undefended border between the two countries creates a practical need for collaboration in border security, migration management, and disaster response.
Geopolitical concerns have also drawn the two countries closer. The Arctic, in particular, has emerged as a zone of growing importance, with Russian and Chinese military interests posing new challenges. Joint surveillance, infrastructure development, and Arctic exercises have become more frequent as both countries seek to strengthen their northern defenses.
Technological advancements have further cemented ties. Cross-border cooperation in cybersecurity, space situational awareness, and artificial intelligence research has become increasingly important, with Canada contributing niche expertise and personnel to several multinational projects led by the United States.
Potential Changes Under Donald Trump’s Second Term
Donald Trump’s return to office in 2025 introduces a measure of uncertainty into the defense relationship. His prior administration featured a strong emphasis on burden-sharing within alliances and a transactional approach to international partnerships. Similar policies could shape his dealings with Canada during his second term.
One potential area of friction is defense spending. Although Canada’s military spending has increased in recent years, it still falls below NATO’s 2 percent of GDP guideline. Trump has previously criticized allies who he believes are not contributing enough to collective defense efforts. Renewed pressure on Canada to raise its defense budget could strain political goodwill, especially if demands are accompanied by public criticism or threats to limit cooperation.
Trade tensions could also spill into defense relations. Trump’s trade policies often intertwine with security arguments, and any disputes over trade agreements such as USMCA could potentially affect broader defense collaboration. Past disagreements during his first term demonstrate that economic and military issues are not always neatly separated.
Trump’s stated interest in redefining U.S. international commitments could also affect NORAD and NATO cooperation. While it is unlikely that NORAD itself would be dismantled, the level of American investment in its modernization or in joint Arctic security projects might decline if budget priorities shift toward domestic programs. Reduced emphasis on multinational exercises or cost-cutting measures could lead to a lower tempo of military engagement between the two countries.
Immigration and border security policies could emerge as another flashpoint. If Trump moves to tighten the U.S.-Canada border or impose more restrictive cross-border controls in response to migration pressures, coordination between defense and security agencies could become more bureaucratic and strained.
Areas Where Cooperation Would Likely Continue
Despite possible tensions, there are practical reasons why much of the military relationship would likely remain intact. Shared defense of the North American continent, particularly in aerospace and maritime domains, remains a necessity for both countries. NORAD’s operational structure is deeply embedded and has proven resilient even during periods of political disagreement.
Cooperation in Arctic security is also expected to continue. Both countries share an interest in countering Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic, and the realities of climate change are opening new navigation routes and security vulnerabilities that neither country can address alone.
Intelligence sharing would likely remain robust as well. Five Eyes cooperation is viewed as a strategic advantage by both nations, and unwinding intelligence partnerships would carry significant costs that outweigh any short-term political disputes.
Cybersecurity and counterterrorism coordination are also unlikely to be disrupted, given the borderless nature of modern threats and the heavy integration of intelligence and defense systems across North America.
Summary
The military cooperation between the United States and Canada remains deeply rooted and highly functional as of the end of 2024, supported by shared interests, integrated structures like NORAD, and long-standing traditions of partnership. With Donald Trump’s second term beginning in 2025, this cooperation could experience new pressures, especially around defense spending, trade disputes, and broader questions of alliance burden-sharing. Nonetheless, essential areas of joint defense, particularly in aerospace security, Arctic sovereignty, and intelligence collaboration, are likely to endure. While the tone and style of the partnership could shift, the underlying strategic realities binding the two countries together remain strong enough to support continued cooperation.
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