The unrestrained madness of Donald Trump is a threat to global peace and stability

Trump’s actions will have long-lasting negative repercussions geopolitically and economically, destabilizing the global order. . .From the wreckage Trump is making we must rebuild a global order rooted in moral authority. 

 
By Fareed Khan 
A version of this article can be found on Substack.

In the streets of our imagination, picture a deranged man wielding a knife, darting erratically through crowds, shouting threats, slashing at bystanders, and occasionally delivering a fatal blow. The authorities—police chiefs, community leaders, politicians—wring their hands, complain loudly about the chaos, but then do nothing to intervene. They watch as the violent rampage escalates, the man emboldened by their inaction to ratchet up his violent assaults.

This is not a scene from a horror film but rather an apt metaphor for Donald Trump’s presidency since he returned to the Oval Office in January 2025. Trump, the man who once boasted he could shoot someone on New York City’s Fifth Avenue without losing support, now acts with impunity, “murdering” the norms of democracy at home and abroad. He unleashes policies that harm all Americans, Venezuelans in Caracas, Cubans, and others across the Caribbean and Latin America. He is unconstrained neither by domestic laws, congressional oversight from a compliant Republican majority, nor by judicial checks from a Supreme Court conservative majority, or international law that he treats as toothless. As he told a New York Times reporter, “The only thing that can stop me is my own morality. My own mind.” This self-proclaimed and extremely flawed moral compass guides a domestic (and foreign) policy of aggression, one where armed agents of ICE, border security, and homeland security intimidate or worse, target racialized immigrants, anti-genocide demonstrators, and perceived political opponents.

Since his return to office everyone, including many political opponents, have given wide berth to this unconstrained madman, fearing his ire will be directed at them. As has been amply demonstrated over the past year, Trump’s power to silence and extort extends to powerful media organizations, universities, major law firms, prominent cultural institutions, Wall Street, corporations, and foreign nations. Yet, as Robert Reich, Labor Secretary during the Clinton era, noted in a prescient piece, an unconstrained madman who reveals his danger also galvanizes resistance. The more Trump’s violence is out in the open, the larger the push back, both domestically and internationally. Peaceful protests against his policies are spreading, and traditional allies are banding together against him. But in this second term, the rampage feels more unhinged, more lethal, because the safeguards that once existed are gone.

During Trump’s first administration, there were “adults in the room”—figures like James Mattis, John Kelly, and Rex Tillerson—who, despite their flaws, provided some restraint on his megalomania and impulsive insanity. These establishment Republicans and military veterans acted as guardrails, tempering his worst instincts on issues like withdrawing from NATO or erratic foreign military adventures. They weren’t perfect because they enabled much of his agenda, but they prevented total catastrophe. Mattis, for instance, reportedly convinced Trump against torturing detainees or assassinating foreign leaders outright. Kelly managed the chaos in the White House, imposing order where there was none. Even critics who mocked the “adults in the room” narrative now admit, in hindsight, that their presence mitigated damage. As one analyst put it, they were the moderating influence that kept the toddler-president from burning down the house.

In stark contrast, Trump’s second administration is devoid of such figures. He has surrounded himself with butt-kissers, boot-lickers, and MAGA acolytes who worship at the altar of his personality cult. These are not independent thinkers but enablers, echoing his every whim without question. Figures like Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff who proclaimed in an interview on CNN that the world is governed by strength, force, and power—the “iron laws” since time immemorial—embody this sycophantic ethos. Miller’s nativist bigotry now drives policy unchecked. The cabinet is filled with loyalists who prioritize Trump’s ego over expertise, people who are election deniers, conspiracy theorists, and opportunists who see his power as their opportunity. This inner circle is no different from the sycophants who surrounded Adolf Hitler as he launched his campaign to “Make Germany Great Again.” Hitler’s enablers—Goebbels, Himmler, Göring—flattered his delusions, amplified his hatreds, and executed his madness without moral qualms. Similarly, Trump’s team nods along as he shreds alliances, threatens invasions, and dismantles institutions, all in service to his cult of personality.

At this juncture in history, Trump poses a danger to the world comparable to Hitler in the 1930s. While not identical—Trump hasn’t orchestrated genocide (yet)— the parallels in their authoritarian playbooks are chilling. Both rose amid economic discontent, scapegoating minorities and “elites.” Both promised national revival through strength and exclusion. Hitler dismantled the Weimar Republic’s fragile democracy, and Trump assaults America’s institutions, from the Justice Department to the free press. In the 1930s, Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations, remilitarized the Rhineland, and annexed Austria, testing the world’s resolve. Today, Trump has shredded the imperfect but functional international order that maintained global peace since World War 2. He pulled the US from the Paris Climate Accord, withdrew from the World Health Organization, and effectively renounced the 1951 Refugee Convention. His executive order mandating a review of all multilateral organizations and treaties signals the potential end of US involvement in the UN itself. In Venezuela, he ordered a brazen attack to seize President Nicolás Maduro, violating sovereignty and echoing 19th-century gunboat diplomacy. Threats to annex Greenland and Canada, invade Mexico, or bomb Colombia flout international law, replacing rules with raw power. As one expert warns, this is “shattering the post-World War 2 order as never before,” leaving a world unrecognizable.

Trump’s actions will have long-lasting negative repercussions geopolitically and economically, destabilizing the global order. The post-WW2 framework—built on military alliances like NATO, trade bodies like the World Trade Organization, and norms against aggression—prevented another world war for eight decades. Trump treats these all as a burden and constraint on American power, imposing tariffs that fracture supply chains, weaponize economic integration, and exploit vulnerabilities. His “America First” agenda accelerates great-power rivalry, emboldening Russia and China. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which Trump has tacitly supported by withholding aid to the Ukrainians, mirrors Hitler’s early aggressions. Economically, his tariffs and isolationism disrupt global markets, fuelling inflation and uncertainty. The world economy, already fragile, faces further chaos as alliances fray and trade wars escalate due to Trump’s actions.

In all of this those who will pay the biggest price are the least powerful—the weak, the economically impoverished, and average consumers. As prices rise for essentials, the burden falls heaviest on the vulnerable. Food, in particular, has seen unprecedented inflation in Western economies over the past few years. In the US beef and veal prices surged 16.4% year-over-year in 2025, driven by a shrinking American cattle herds. Coffee jumped 1.9% monthly in December 2025, reaching $9.05 per pound. Eggs spiked dramatically, with retail prices falling only after peaks in 2023-2024 but still elevated due to the culling of chickens battered by avian flu outbreaks. Wheat prices, volatile since the start of Russia-Ukraine war, decreased 11.1% in 2025 but remain high overall. Sugar and dairy products also saw sharp rises, with “other foods” like sweets up 31% since 2020.

These increases, compounded by Trump’s tariffs on imports, hit low-income households hardest, eroding purchasing power for basic life necessities. In the US, food inflation outpaced overall inflation at 3.1% annually in 2025, up 19% since 2022. Globally, the FAO Food Price Index averaged 127.2 points in 2025, 4.3% higher than 2024. The poor, already struggling, face malnutrition and hardship as Trump’s destabilization ripples through commodity markets around the world.

This is where “middle powers”—as articulated by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in his Davos speech—must step up. Carney warned of a “rupture, not a transition” in the global order, urging middle powers like Canada, Australia, South Korea, France, the UK and others to act together. “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” he declared, calling for collective resistance against great-power coercion. These nations need to do more than talk and hold meetings. They must behave as if they are already at war with the Trump’s disruptive force. Appeasing him—through concessions on trade or security—will only invite further chaos and instability. History shows appeasement of Hitler in the 1930s led to war, and today the same policy with Trump risks repeating that dark chapter. In the face of this possible future middle powers should fortify alliances, diversify trade, bolster multilateral institutions, dramatically boost defence spending, and counter Trump’s unilateralism with coordinated diplomacy. As Carney emphasized, the power of legitimacy, integrity, and rules can prevail if wielded boldly.

If we are to accept Miller’s argument of the “iron laws” of strength and force, and the world were governed solely by might, then we would be in perpetual warfare, with no safety for anyone. We must strive for nations and a world governed by laws, rules, and norms that constrain the powerful, including Trump and the fascist thugs around him.

The struggle we face will be unlike anything witnessed in our lifetimes. It will not be won through aggression, but through unwavering commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and social justice. We will stop Trump with resolute determination—so that our children and grandchildren never live under a dictatorship. We cannot allow despair, fear, or paralysis to take hold, nor can we abandon the principles that define us.

From the wreckage Trump is making of the institutions and laws that have shaped our imperfect world, we will rebuild a society and global order rooted in moral authority rather than bombs. A world where greatness is measured by shared prosperity, not by the concentrated wealth of billionaires or the grip of fascist oligarchs. As in World War II, this is a battle we must win—and then, just as crucially, we must rebuild. Because that is the only path forward we have.

© 2026 The View From Here. © 2026 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.

Carney should know that appeasement never works when dealing with a bully like Trump

Bullies like Trump exploit perceived weakness because their goal is not mutual benefit but dominance . . . History offers stark warnings about the dangers of appeasing coercive actors. 

 
By Fareed Khan

 

Yesterday the Canadian government announced it would remove retaliatory tariffs on US goods compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a move framed as an effort to reset stalled trade negotiations with the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney described this as a strategic shift, likening it to a hockey game where Canada moves from “elbows up” to deft stick handling. Yet, this decision reeks of appeasement—a concession to Donald Trump, a president who has relentlessly bullied Canada with escalating tariffs and provocative rhetoric about annexing it as the 51st state. 

History and psychological studies warn us that appeasing bullies rarely ends well, and Canada’s current path risks repeating the mistakes of those who have caved to coercion before. By softening its stance, Canada is not outmanoeuvring a bully, it is inviting further aggression from a leader with a well-documented history of breaking promises and exploiting perceived weakness.

The psychology of bullies: Why appeasement fails

Psychological studies on bullying provide a clear framework for understanding Trump’s tactics and why appeasement is doomed to fail. Bullies thrive on power imbalances, using intimidation to assert dominance and extract concessions. According to the American Psychological Association bullies target those who display submissive behaviours, interpreting acquiescence as an invitation for further aggression. Appeasement, far from de-escalating conflict, signals to the bully that their tactics are effective, encouraging escalation.

This dynamic is evident in Trump’s trade war. After Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods in response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian exports (and 10% on energy), Trump raised the stakes, increasing tariffs to 35% on non-CUSMA-compliant goods and 50% on steel, aluminum, and copper. Canada’s decision to lift tariffs on CUSMA-compliant goods, while maintaining levies on key sectors like steel and autos, appears conciliatory—a move that risks emboldening Trump to push for more concessions.

Bullies like Trump exploit perceived weakness because their goal is not mutual benefit but dominance. A 2020 study in Personality and Individual Differences noted that individuals with narcissistic traits—such as grandiosity and a need for admiration—often engage in bullying to maintain control and suppress challenges to their authority. Trump’s public persona, marked by boastful rhetoric and personal attacks, aligns with this profile. His repeated references to Canada as a potential 51st state and his dismissal of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a mere “governor” reflect a desire to humiliate and subordinate, not negotiate as equals. Canada’s tariff rollback, intended to foster dialogue, may instead signal to Trump that Canada is willing to bend under pressure, inviting further demands.

Historical lessons: The perils of appeasement

History offers stark warnings about the dangers of appeasing coercive actors. The most infamous example is the 1938 Munich Agreement, where Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia in hopes of securing “peace in our time.” This concession, driven by the desire to avoid conflict, emboldened Adolf Hitler, who interpreted it as a sign of weakness. Within a year, Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia and invaded Poland, triggering World War II. The lesson is clear: appeasing a bully who seeks dominance does not lead to peace but to escalation.

To Americans from Canadians: The bully you elected as president started a fight we’re going to finish

Canada will not be your 51st state. We will not be bullied, and we will not back down . . . we are prepared to endure any economic pain to protect who we are. 

 

By Fareed Khan 

 

A letter to America:

 

For the better part of a century, Canada has been your steadfast ally, your unwavering partner, and your friend through the trials of history. We have stood shoulder to shoulder in wars and times of crisis, opened our homes to Americans in moments of need, and built an economic relationship that has enriched both our nations. But today, under the leadership of Donald Trump, that relationship has been betrayed (again).

 

Your leader has chosen the path of a bully, wielding tariffs as weapons and threatening annexation masked as a jest that hides dangerous intent. America's actions—most recently the escalation of tariffs on Canadian goods to 35% on August 1, 2025—have made it clear that you see Canada not as a partner, but as a target to be subdued. Let us be unequivocal—Canada will not bend, we will not break, and we will not be bullied.  Canadians are prepared to endure whatever pain is necessary to protect our sovereignty and to ensure that your economic aggression costs you dearly.

The history of Donald Trump is one of betrayal, a pattern as old as the parable of the scorpion and the turtle. In that tale, the scorpion promises not to sting the turtle that carries it across the river, only to betray that trust because it is in its nature. Your president has shown his nature time and again in the business world and during his first presidential term—through broken promises and broken contracts with business associates, political allies, and now entire nations. Since November 2024, his repeated calls to make Canada the “51st state” have not been taken as mere rhetoric in Canada but as a direct threat to Canada’s sovereignty. His tariffs, which began at 25% and now stand at 35% on many Canadian goods, are not just economic policy, they are an attempt to bring Canada to its knees. But your president underestimates Canadian resilience. Canada is not a nation of weakness, we are a nation of tough, innovative, and resolute people who will fight back with every tool at our disposal.

The relationship between Canada and the United States stretches back well over a century, forged through shared challenges and mutual respect. In World War One, Canada sent over 600,000 troops to fight for freedom while the US remained neutral until 1917. In World War Two, we joined the Allies in 1939 at the start of the conflict, two years before America entered the fray. When the tragedy of 9/11 struck, Canada opened its skies and homes, welcoming over 33,000 US bound passengers onto its soil, with almost 7,000 hosted by families in the town of Gander, Newfoundland (a community of approximately 10,000).  Canada hosted our guests with kindness and patience until the passengers could return home. We stood by you in Afghanistan, sacrificing 158 Canadian lives in a shared mission. Yet, when you pursued the Iraq War on false pretenses, we held firm to our principles, refusing to join a conflict built on deception.

This is the Canada your president now threatens—a nation that has proven its loyalty, its courage, and its moral compass. In contrast, your government has chosen chaos over cooperation, taking a wrecking ball to the post-World War Two order that both our nations helped build. The US-Canada trade relationship, the largest in the world, with over $2.7 billion in trade across our border daily, is a cornerstone of prosperity for both nations. Three-quarters of Canada’s exports go to the US, and Canada is the top destination for exports from 34 US states, with Canadians purchasing $349 billion in American goods last year. Yet, your president has chosen to disrupt this mutually beneficial partnership with tariffs that economists warn will harm both our economies.

Trump’s tariffs are not just an attack on Canada, they are a self-inflicted wound on the American economy. Stephen Tapp, Chief Economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has stated that these tariffs will “raise costs for businesses, make American production less competitive internationally, and raise prices even more for US consumers, who have recently suffered through the highest inflation in generations”. The Tax Foundation estimates that US tariffs will amount to an average tax increase of $1,219 per US household in 2025, with market income dropping by 1.3% in 2026. The Yale Budget Lab projects that Canada’s economy could shrink by 2.1% in the long term, but the US will also suffer long-term damage as supply chains falter and prices rise.

Canadians are not standing idly by. In response to Trump’s aggression against Canada, 71% of us have pledged to buy fewer American products, a boycott that is already hitting US exporters hard. In 2024, Canada was America’s  second-largest food export market, valued at $28.4 billion. That market is shrinking as Canadian supermarkets label domestic products and consumers willingly pay 50% more for fruit and vegetables from Mexico, Latin America and other nations rather than buy produce from the US. Liquor stores in the provinces of Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario have pulled American wines and spirits from their shelves, replacing them with Canadian alternatives. Tourism, a $20.5 billion contributor to your economy from Canadian visitors, accounting for 140,000 jobs, has plummeted, with a six-month decline in cross-border travel costing the US an estimated $12.5 billion in 2025 alone. These actions are not mere gestures, they are a calculated response to your president’s economic bullying, and they are working.

Furthermore, your president’s threats of annexation have only strengthened the resolve of Canadians. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau captured the national sentiment when he declared, “We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down.” Polls have shown a surge in Canadian pride, with 44% of Canadians expressing they are “very proud” of their country, up 10 points since December 2024. The idea of joining the US as a state has been rejected by 90% of Canadians. From small business owners to everyday consumers, people across the country are uniting to protect the Canadian economy and our sovereignty. Across Canada grocery stores now feature products made in Canada, and shoppers choose Canadian products even when it’s less convenient, calling your tariffs an “economic attack”. But this is not just about economics; it is about identity.

Canada is the nation that gave the world insulin, the electron microscope, IMAX, the smartphone, the pacemaker, and yes, even peanut butter. We are the birthplace of hockey and basketball, and the home of cultural icons like Drake, Shania Twain, and Gordon Lightfoot. We are a nation of innovators, creators, and peacemakers, and we will not allow our legacy to be erased by your bully president who sees Canada as a prize to be claimed.

However, we know that standing up to your president’s deranged tariff policy will come with costs. Economists predict that the Trump tariffs could lead to a million job losses in Canada and push our economy into recession. But we are prepared to endure this pain to protect our sovereignty and to send a message that US bullying will not go unanswered. Our government has already imposed retaliatory tariffs on $20.8 billion of US goods, and Canada is exploring further measures, such as export taxes on resources like oil, gas, electricity and critical minerals which the US relies on for its industrial and defence sectors. As Prime Minister Mark Carney has said, “We’re their number one customer. I’m not too sure if they fully understand the impact on both sides of the border.”

Your own economists are sounding the alarm, warning that the boycott and retaliatory tariffs will cause a “drop in US exports,” particularly in food and alcohol. A “stagflationary shock” is also predicted in the US, with growth reduced by 1.5% and rising consumer prices. Even General Motors has reported a $1.1 billion loss in quarterly earnings due to the Trump tariffs on Canadian auto parts.

These are not abstract numbers; they are the real-world consequences of your president’s reckless policies, felt by American businesses and consumers alike. He seems to have mistaken Canada’s politeness for weakness, but we are a nation forged in resilience. We have faced external threats before and emerged stronger, and we will do so again. Our boycott is not temporary. It is a commitment to reshape our economy, reduce our reliance on US trade, and strengthen ties with Europe, Asia, and beyond. We are taking action to boost our domestic economy by an estimated $200 billion annually and undertaking nation building projects in support of that objective. We are united and we will not relent until the Trump administration ceases its attacks on our economy and our sovereignty.

This is our declaration of independence from the US as our main trading partner. Canada will not be your 51st state. We will not be bullied, and we will not back down. If Trump persists in this insanity, the economic pain will be felt on both sides of the border, but we are prepared to endure it to protect who we are. The scorpion may sting because it is in its nature, but Canada will not drown from the scorpion you have installed as your president. We will rise, stronger and prouder than ever, and you will learn that a true friend, when betrayed, becomes an unyielding force.

Sincerely,

Patriots Across Canada
 

© 2025 The View From Here. © 2025 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.

Trump’s tariff policies are a path to economic chaos and potential global conflict

Trump's tariffs echo the catastrophic 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act and risk a global recession or depression, could destabilize political systems, and potentially ignite military conflict.

  

By Fareed Khan 

   

Since Donald Trump’s re-election as president of the United States, a storm of economic and geopolitical turmoil has engulfed the world, driven by his antagonistic tariff policies targeting America’s closest allies and trading partners. On March 4, 2025, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). On July 10, 2025, he escalated tensions by threatening a 35% tariff on Canadian imports beginning in August, with 30% on Mexico, and blanket tariffs of 15% to 20% on most other trading partners.

These policies, echoing the catastrophic Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, risk plunging the global economy into a deep recession or depression, destabilizing political systems, and potentially igniting military conflict between the US and some of its trade partners and allies. If this were to happen Canada—a nation rich in oil, critical minerals, and freshwater which the US covets—could potentially be the frontline in such a conflict. The resulting consequences will harm hundreds of millions globally, but American consumers will bear the steepest costs through higher prices, job losses, and eroded global influence.

The historical parallels of Trump’s tariff policies to the Smoot-Hawley legislation are stark. Enacted in 1930, the act raised duties on hundreds of imports, prompting retaliatory tariffs that crippled global trade and was a major factor in transforming a recession into The Great Depression. By June 2025, Trump’s tariffs raised the average US rate to 15.8%, the highest in over a century, threatening a similar outcome.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Bank have slashed 2025 global growth forecasts, warning of a US-triggered recession. Given that modern global economies are far more interconnected than in the 1930s, these risks will be greatly amplified. Disruptions in one market, particularly one as large as the US, will cascade worldwide, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of millions. We also have to remember that the Great Depression fuelled nationalist and fascist movements, paving the way for World War II, and today’s escalating trade tensions could similarly destabilize global peace.

Economists warn that Trump’s tariffs will hit American consumers hardest. The Tax Foundation estimates that tariffs imposed as of April 2025 will cost US households $1,200 annually as businesses pass on the higher costs of imported good. The automotive industry, reliant on Canadian and Mexican parts, also faces production cost increases of $3,000 per vehicle, while grocery prices will rise due to Mexico supplying over 60% of US vegetable imports and nearly half of its fruit imports.

Trump’s claim that tariffs boost domestic manufacturing and will grow the economy are dubious claims and have been refuted by the vast majority of economists. His first-term tariffs led to job losses in agriculture outweighing manufacturing gains. Retaliatory tariffs from Canada, Mexico, and China—targeting US exports like agricultural products, alcoholic beverages, and other items—have cost American farmers, wine makers and distillers billions, with China’s 15% tariffs further eroding market access. These measures create an inflationary spiral, reducing purchasing power and pushing the US and global economies toward recession. With the US accounting for 26.1% of global GDP the impact of Trump’s tariffs will have a world-wide impact. The economic fallout is already evident. The US economy contracted in the first quarter of 2025, and Canada’s exports to the US, which account for approximately 14% of its GDP, have declined substantially, with the Bank of Canada warning of a “substantially weaker” economy.

The president’s tariff policies had a devastating impact on the stock market with a crash in April 2025 that erased trillions of dollars in value after Trump announced a 10% universal tariff and “reciprocal” tariffs on 57 countries. Inflation is also projected to surge as businesses deplete pre-tariff stockpiles, with significant price increases expected on imported products by late summer 2025. American families, already strained by inflation, are facing higher costs for essentials like food and fuel, while export-dependent sectors shed jobs. Canada’s retaliatory measures, including Ontario’s threatened 25% electricity export surcharge, are sure to exacerbate cross-border tensions. Furthermore, people in the US Midwest, reliant on Canada for 60% of their crude imports, could see gas prices rise by as much as 50 cents per gallon, should Trump decide to apply tariffs to crude oil, or if Canada applies export tariffs as a punitive measure.

Beyond economics, Trump’s trade war risks geopolitical catastrophe, with Canada as a potential flash point. His July 10, 2025, threat of a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, coupled with provocative calls to annex Canada as the “51st state,” has inflamed tensions. Posts on X reveal growing US nationalist sentiment, with some MAGA supporters eyeing Canada’s one-tenth of global oil reserves, its critical mineral resources, and fresh water as strategic assets for US energy security and its technology sectors. Canada’s resources make it a prime target, as the US seeks to secure oil for energy, minerals for electric vehicles, and fresh water amid growing domestic water shortages.

The link between trade wars and military conflict is well-established. French economist Frédéric Bastiat’s maxim, “when goods do not cross frontiers, armies will,” resonates today. The Smoot-Hawley tariffs exacerbated tensions that then fuelled global militarization in the 1930s. Trump’s rhetoric, casting allies like Canada as possible enemies while extending an olive branch to Russia—a nation with a history of undermining Western security—creates a dangerous diplomatic inversion.

His suspension of trade talks with Canada on June 27, 2025, over its digital services tax, and threats to dissolve agreements related to NORAD and Great Lakes management, signal a dismantling of decades of cooperation. This erosion of trust and Trump’s frequent criticisms of Canada could embolden US nationalist factions in his MAGA movement, particularly if economic hardship intensifies as a result of his tariff policies. This raises the spectre of military posturing by the US to secure Canadian resources. Such a conflict would disrupt North American stability and have global repercussions.

The economic damage extends to global supply chains, particularly in North America’s integrated automotive and sector. Canada supplies critical components for US vehicle production, and tariffs could disrupt just-in-time manufacturing, leading to factory slowdowns and job losses. Mexico’s shift toward domestic corn and fuel production to counter tariffs also threatens US agricultural exports, deepening rural America’s economic woes. Small businesses, already struggling with inflation, face higher input costs, forcing layoffs or closures, while consumers grapple with reduced purchasing power. Emerging markets, dependent on trade with the US face secondary effects as global trade networks falter, potentially triggering currency devaluations and social unrest in vulnerable economies.

Canada’s strategic vulnerabilities heighten the stakes. Its oil reserves, critical minerals, and fresh water are increasingly sought-after as global resource scarcity intensifies. The US, facing domestic water shortages and pressure to secure minerals for green technology, may view Canadian resources as a national security priority, fuelling increased nationalist fervour. Canada’s relatively small military and economic size compared to the US make it vulnerable to coercion, yet its retaliatory measures, like restricting oil and electricity exports, could destabilize US regions like New York, Michigan and the Mid-West states, which rely on Canadian energy. This tit-for-tat escalation risks turning economic disputes into broader conflicts, with Canada as the front-line due to its proximity and resource wealth.

The global economic consequences extend beyond North America. Developing nations, reliant on exports to the US and Canada, face declining demand as tariffs disrupt trade flows, potentially leading to economic stagnation in regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America. The World Bank warns that a prolonged trade war could push 50 million people into poverty by 2026, as global supply chains unravel and commodity prices spike. In the US, the ripple effects will be felt in urban and rural communities alike, with rising costs for goods like electronics and clothing, which depend on imported components, eroding middle-class savings and exacerbating inequality. These pressures could fuel domestic unrest, as economic hardship amplifies political polarization.

The geopolitical ripple effects are equally dire. Trump’s threatened tariff on the EU, delayed to August 1, 2025, has strained NATO alliances, with EU leaders approving retaliatory tariffs. China’s response—imposing up to 84% tariffs on US goods—further isolates America from the nations that have helped create the post-World War Two trade network.

This fragmentation undermines efforts to counter China’s growing global influence, as Canada, Mexico and other allies may seek alternative trade partners, even potentially aligning more closely with Beijing as a counterbalance to the US. In addition, Trump’s pivot toward Russia, evidenced by his reluctance to forcefully criticize Moscow for its actions in Ukraine, and fully support that country in its war with Russia, risks destabilizing the post-World War II order that has maintained relative peace through economic interdependence. Furthermore, America’s $748.9 billion trade deficit, along with how it has alienated and angered allies and trade partners, will make this isolation economically perilous.

Long-term diplomatic solutions also face significant hurdles. The fractured political landscape in the US, with Congress divided along partisan lines, limits the prospects for repealing Trump’s tariff authority, despite legal challenges to his policies. Canada’s efforts to build coalitions through the G7 and other international forums are hampered by Trump’s withdrawal from multilateral frameworks, leaving allies scrambling to maintain global trade norms. Rebuilding trust will require years, and possibly decades, of sustained diplomatic engagement, as nations like Canada pivot to diversify trade with Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, reducing reliance on the US market.

Whether this trajectory can be averted is up in the air? The US Congress holds the authority to curb Trump’s tariff powers, especially after federal courts ruled his actions unconstitutional. However, political polarization and Trump’s influence over the Republican Party make bipartisan action challenging, and only courageous leadership would restore free trade principles.

Canada, led by newly elected prime minister Mark Carney, sought to rally allies at the G7 Summit in Alberta in June, but Trump’s early summit departure and his unpredictability have stymied progress. What Canada and other nations targeted by Trump need to remember is Immanuel Kant’s assertion that “the spirit of commerce . . . sooner or later takes hold of every nation, and is incompatible with war,” a sentiment that remains relevant today.

Moving forward global leaders must prioritize diplomacy and free trade to avert economic and geopolitical catastrophe. Canada’s resource wealth and economic potential positions it to forge new alliances, but this risks further alienating the US, potentially escalating tensions.

The world stands at an inflection point in history. Without decisive action by the leaders of Canada, Mexico and other nations in Trump’s cross hairs, Trump’s tariffs could spark a global economic catastrophe and even armed conflict. This will affect people around the world but Americans will face the harshest consequences—higher costs, unemployment, and diminished global influence.

It’s up to political leaders to do what’s needed to ensure that the world doesn’t fall down the black hole of global depression and possible armed conflict, and keep it from regressing economically and politically, as one man’s actions disrupt and destabilize the world.

© 2025 The View From Here. © 2025 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.

It’s unthinkable, but Trump could resort to military force in his bid to annex Canada

Before Russia’s 2022 assault on Ukraine, the Russian president spent years laying groundwork — claiming historical rights, questioning borders, and using economic pressure to destabilize Kyiv.  Trump is taking a similar approach . . . 
 

By Fareed Khan

 
For a century and a half, Canada and the United States have shared a peaceful border, rooted in mutual respect, economic ties, and democratic values. The last hints of American aggression toward Canada faded after the Civil War, when fear of invasion helped unite British North American colonies into Canada in 1867.  Now, that dormant threat has reemerged under US President Donald Trump. His erratic behaviour, inflammatory rhetoric, and willingness to unravel longstanding treaties signals a danger that Canada cannot ignore.  As a result, Ottawa must prepare for the unthinkable – a military incursion from the south, driven by a deranged leader whose actions echo Russia’s prelude to invading Ukraine.

© Image Comics.  SOURCE: https://gizmodo.com/us-canada-invasion-comic-trump-tariffs-sales-image-2000561632

 

Trump seems to be following Vladimir Putin’s playbook.  Before Russia’s 2022 assault on Ukraine, the Russian president spent years laying groundwork — claiming historical rights, questioning borders, and using economic pressure to destabilize Kyiv.  Trump is taking a similar approach by challenging the 1908 Canada–US border treaty, calling it outdated and asserting American claims to Canadian land, water, and the Great Lakes.  On March 4, 2025, he launched a trade war by imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian goods despite a free trade agreement he signed with Canada in 2020.  Following a tense phone call with Trump the following day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided to warn Canadians that the tariffs were a prelude aimed to weaken Canada’s economy with the goal of annexation by the US.

If one looks closely Trump’s actions fit the pattern Putin used – economic leverage and territorial claims to justify aggression.  His concerns about illegal migrants and fentanyl originating from Canada have evolved into trade warfare and hints of military action. Should Trump escalate his approach, he might consider deploying US troops to “secure” what he perceives as American interests on Canadian soil.  This potential aggression necessitates that Canada begin preparations for a possible military incursion.

While the likelihood of a US military incursion into Canada is remote, it is not outside the realm of possibility. Speculation about a potential US invasion has emerged in both Canadian and US media.  History has shown that trade wars can escalate into military conflicts, with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 serving as a prime example.  This series of tariffs aimed to protect the US economy resulted in retaliatory tariffs that severely hampered global trade and played a significant role in the onset of the Great Depression.  Ultimately, this paved the way for protectionism, nationalism, and the conditions which led to the outbreak of World War II.

If the US occupied Canada it would be disastrous for both nations according to defence experts.  It could provoke a prolonged insurgency, as the sheer size and resilience of the Canadian population would make it difficult for US forces to maintain control.  If just 1% of Canada’s 41 million citizens took up arms – 410,000 people – that would dwarf the Taliban’s forces in Afghanistan.  Guerrilla tactics, engaging in hit-and-run operations rather than conventional warfare, against American targets would define the Canadian resistance

Canadians, despite our reputation for politeness, possess a resilient spirit, which is already surfacing amid a wave of patriotism.  Historical precedents, such as the American experiences in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, show that occupations often ignite defiance instead of submission.  An invasion of Canada could turn into a quagmire for the US, diverting resources while emboldening Russian and Chinese expansionist ambitions.

Furthermore, Canada cannot assume it would stand alone.  As a NATO member, the expectation would be for allies such as the UK, France, and Germany to respond.  However, NATO is already strained by tensions with Russia in Eastern Europe, and in recent meetings with the leaders of France and the UK, the new prime minister Mark Carney did not get any overt statements of support, suggesting that a North American crisis could weaken the alliance and potentially fracture it in the face of a US attack on Canada.  While Commonwealth countries such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand might offer support, their capacity to assist Canada militarily would be limited.

The circumstances in which Canada finds itself demands self-reliance.  Ottawa should move immediately to fund modernization of the military, increase military recruitment and troop readiness, and stockpile supplies while strengthening infrastructure, energy independence, and civilian defence.  In addition, Canadian leaders must rally global condemnation of Trump’s annexation threats to isolate the US politically.  But preparation must go beyond words, because if tariffs are Trump’s opening salvo Canada should not wait to see what comes next.

Canada would suffer greatly but it would endure.  Trump seems blind to the prospect of mutual destruction.  But Trump’s actions suggest he is unbound by sanity or history.  Canada can’t dismiss him as eccentric, and based on his words and actions over the past few months, must now treat him and the US as an aggressor.  The US hasn’t been Canada’s enemy since the 19th century, but under Trump, that has changed in the span of a few months.

The Canadian government must act to strengthen the country’s defences, rally allies, and prepare Canadians for a fight we hope to avoid.  Failing to do so would further risk our sovereignty and Canada’s survival as an independent nation.

  

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