It seems kind of natural, even tribal, that those who share origins and who have fought wars together go back-to-back in a perceived threat situation.
When I was in Bali at an outdoor beer garden, I approached a table of Aussies and asked if they would keep an eye on my stuff while I went to the loo. When they looked me over, I said "Oh, I'm from the northern colony!" They laughed with "Hey Canada! Have a pint with us when you come back!" I liked that.
I was actually looking at the parliamentary records for this recently. You mentioned CANZUK is currently just an idea, but citizens keep trying to push it into the House of Commons. I found a recent official petition (basically a formal request citizens send to Ottawa) that gathered nearly 2,000 signatures demanding the government negotiate a pact. The government rarely acts on these petitions. Still, it proves ordinary Canadians are actively seeking this strategic insurance.
I am so there for a formal support/trade/mutual assistance agreement between 4 of the 5 largest economies in the Commonwealth.
And I get that there will be a disparity of opinion on closer alignment. Whether you love tradition, or hate colonialism and its legacy among the CANZUK grouping, at this point in history the main motivator may simply be that in bad times, it's right to recruit good friends.
Mark Carney is trying to build closer ties economically and militarily between member countries of the EU and TPP countries, CANZUK could fit within this grouping as well as other European countries not members of the EU, in particular the UK, Norway, and the Balkans.
That’s an interesting angle Luc... and you’re right that there’s a broader pattern emerging.
What we’re seeing globally isn’t one single alliance forming, but overlapping networks... EU partnerships, CPTPP trade relationships, NATO security ties, Five Eyes intelligence cooperation.
Countries are layering connections rather than choosing just one bloc.
CANZUK could theoretically sit inside that kind of network model... especially with the UK positioned between Europe and Commonwealth relationships.
Whether leaders explicitly frame it that way or not, the direction is clear... middle powers are building multiple partnerships to reduce vulnerability in an uncertain world.
Haha... there’s definitely a comfort factor there Patsy.
A lot of Canadians feel an easy familiarity with those countries... similar humour, institutions, language, and day-to-day culture.
It doesn’t feel foreign in the same way other places might.
Your “hopscotch” line actually captures one of the core ideas behind CANZUK: making movement and connection between those countries simpler because the adjustment barrier is already low.
Friends scattered across the globe suddenly feels a lot closer.
It seems kind of natural, even tribal, that those who share origins and who have fought wars together go back-to-back in a perceived threat situation.
When I was in Bali at an outdoor beer garden, I approached a table of Aussies and asked if they would keep an eye on my stuff while I went to the loo. When they looked me over, I said "Oh, I'm from the northern colony!" They laughed with "Hey Canada! Have a pint with us when you come back!" I liked that.
Exactly Jim... there’s a cultural shorthand between those countries that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it.
Shared history, similar institutions, same language… and yeah, a lot of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in some pretty ugly moments of history.
Your Bali story captures it perfectly. You don’t need a treaty to recognize familiarity... sometimes it’s just instinct.
The real question is whether that natural trust ever translates into actual policy… or just stays at the “have a pint with us” level.
Either way, it’s an interesting dynamic to watch.
I was actually looking at the parliamentary records for this recently. You mentioned CANZUK is currently just an idea, but citizens keep trying to push it into the House of Commons. I found a recent official petition (basically a formal request citizens send to Ottawa) that gathered nearly 2,000 signatures demanding the government negotiate a pact. The government rarely acts on these petitions. Still, it proves ordinary Canadians are actively seeking this strategic insurance.
That’s the interesting part a lot of people don’t see.
CANZUK isn’t just a think-tank concept... citizens have actually been pushing it through formal parliamentary petitions.
I was looking at one recently that gathered close to 2,000 signatures asking Ottawa to at least explore negotiations.
Governments almost never act directly on petitions, but they do show public sentiment.
And in this case it tells us something important...
Some Canadians are actively looking for strategic diversification... not replacing our U.S. relationship, but adding insurance.
Whether CANZUK ever becomes real policy or not, the pressure isn’t coming from nowhere.
I am so there for a formal support/trade/mutual assistance agreement between 4 of the 5 largest economies in the Commonwealth.
And I get that there will be a disparity of opinion on closer alignment. Whether you love tradition, or hate colonialism and its legacy among the CANZUK grouping, at this point in history the main motivator may simply be that in bad times, it's right to recruit good friends.
That’s a very fair way to frame it.
History carries baggage... no question... but geopolitics usually runs on interests and trust more than sentiment.
Countries don’t choose partners because the past was perfect. They choose them because the present feels reliable.
And your point about “bad times” is key.
When the global environment gets unstable, nations naturally look for partners they already understand... legally, culturally, and institutionally.
That reduces friction and risk.
Whether CANZUK ever formalizes or not, the instinct behind it makes sense... recruit friends you already know you can work with.
CANZUK is four parts of five eyes and Uncle Sam is outside the circle of trust.
Interesting way to look at it Mike... although I’d frame it a bit differently.
The U.S. isn’t really “outside” the trust circle.
Five Eyes still exists, and the intelligence cooperation remains extremely deep.
What CANZUK conversations hint at isn’t exclusion... it’s redundancy.
Countries build backup relationships when they feel uncertainty rising.
It’s less about pushing America away and more about making sure you’re not dependent on only one pillar.
Even close allies diversify. That’s just strategic adulthood.
I love this grouping. I’ve been following the threads for a while
You’re definitely not alone Claire... there’s a quiet but persistent group of people who’ve been watching this idea for years.
What makes it interesting is that it sits right at the intersection of culture, economics, and geopolitics.
Familiar countries, but modern pressures pushing new conversations.
Whether it ever becomes formal policy or just stays an idea, it’s one of those developments worth keeping
I think it would be a bonus for all of us as we are very similar. Saying this and I’m French. I think it needs to become a reality
Love the concept.
Mark Carney is trying to build closer ties economically and militarily between member countries of the EU and TPP countries, CANZUK could fit within this grouping as well as other European countries not members of the EU, in particular the UK, Norway, and the Balkans.
That’s an interesting angle Luc... and you’re right that there’s a broader pattern emerging.
What we’re seeing globally isn’t one single alliance forming, but overlapping networks... EU partnerships, CPTPP trade relationships, NATO security ties, Five Eyes intelligence cooperation.
Countries are layering connections rather than choosing just one bloc.
CANZUK could theoretically sit inside that kind of network model... especially with the UK positioned between Europe and Commonwealth relationships.
Whether leaders explicitly frame it that way or not, the direction is clear... middle powers are building multiple partnerships to reduce vulnerability in an uncertain world.
I believe most Canadians love those countries anyway, let's play hopscotch! haha I have friends in all of them :)
Haha... there’s definitely a comfort factor there Patsy.
A lot of Canadians feel an easy familiarity with those countries... similar humour, institutions, language, and day-to-day culture.
It doesn’t feel foreign in the same way other places might.
Your “hopscotch” line actually captures one of the core ideas behind CANZUK: making movement and connection between those countries simpler because the adjustment barrier is already low.
Friends scattered across the globe suddenly feels a lot closer.