Weaponising trade; interfering in the domestic affairs of open societies; using technological dependencies to undermine national security; threatening to invade and occupy weaker democratic neighbours. How do we respond to such behaviour? We sanction Russia and aid Ukraine. We at least talk about what it means with China. But we cling to the hope that, come 2029, we can forget that any of the above could describe the actions of the United States. This is delusional.

We must push back while we still can

We must push back while we still can

Currently, the United States is waging a trade war with Canada: a country with which we share a close alliance, a cultural heritage and a sovereign, but the UK has said nothing. Standing with Canada against American intimidation is morally correct and in Britain’s own long-term interests.

It is now par for the course in Washington’s engagements with its allies to threaten annexation, economic coercion, withdrawal of military support and leveraging technological dependency. The ‘special relationship’ has not made the UK immune. The threat of 100 per cent tariffs and cancellation of the bilateral trade agreement if we do not abolish the Digital Service Tax is only the latest in a string of American interventions on British issues ranging from trade to free speech.

By supporting Canada, rhetorically and materially (should it come to it), we can demonstrate that America’s power over its allies is not so great that it can treat them as vassals to be plundered. Washington’s increasing belligerence towards its allies should scare us. The longer we........

© The Spectator