Some claim Canada is ‘too small’ to defend itself. That’s absurd.
Fundamentally, a large portion of a country’s strength comes from its mindset. A small nation with the right mindset can be much more powerful than a larger nation with the wrong mindset. Nations that have a realistic view of human nature – rather than being naive – and who feel their citizens are worth defending, will take the steps to defend themselves.
Obviously, per capita GDP, natural resources, technological level, allies, and robust democratic institutions are also important. Once those things are in place, however, the mindset of a country is often the deciding factor.
A ‘small’ mindset
Consider the case of Canada. Our military has been underfunded for decades, and though that is finally being addressed, it will take some time and will face significant opposition. Many still feel Canada doesn’t need a powerful military, and assume that any large-scale conflict will magically spare us. And many seem to think Canada is somehow incapable of achieving large-scale military strength. When I write about the need for a large-scale Canadian military buildup, I often notice that people respond by saying something along the lines of “Canada is a small country,” “Canada can’t afford it,” “Canada doesn’t have enough people,” etc.
Those are all excuses, excuses meant to keep Canada in our current weak and vulnerable position.
Ukraine, South Korea, Israel
Ukraine has a population of under 40 million people (many have left the country following Russia’s invasion), and a GDP of about CAD 250 billion.
South Korea has a population of about 52 million and a GDP of CAD of about 2.4 trillion.
Israel has a population of under 10 million and a GDP of CAD 720 billion.
Ukraine is – with outside financial and military aid but with only its own population on the ground – holding off Russia (once considered the second strongest military power on Earth).
South Korea possesses a powerful domestic defence sector, produces high-quality equipment for its own forces and for export, and produces artillery at a rapid pace (at one point, South Korea supplied 300,000 155mm shells to the U.S. to replenish stockpiles the U.S. had given to Ukraine).
Israel possesses highly advanced air defences, active protection systems for armour, a powerful air force, and has demonstrated the ability to withstand attacks from much larger nations like Iran (a population of roughly 90 million) and respond by decimating Iran’s air defences.
Now, consider the population and GDP figures noted above, and consider Canada’s statistics:
Population: 41 million
GDP: CAD 3.2 trillion
As you can see, if South Korea, Israel, and Ukraine can be military powerhouses, Canada has no excuse. Those nations all have little choice but to prioritize military strength, because they would cease to exist without it. They can’t afford to be weak, so they do what is necessary to be strong, despite possessing fewer economic and natural resources than Canada does. Thus, all that is standing in Canada’s way is our mindset, nothing more. If we change that, we can become a nation fully capable of defending ourselves, supporting our allies, and giving our citizens a sense of security no matter how dangerous the world becomes.
Spencer Fernando
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