PJ The Belt - November 20, 2025


＂WE WONT PROTECT THEM ANYMORE＂ Canada Risks NORAD Removal


Episode Stats


Length

15 minutes

Words per minute

146.29634

Word count

2,293

Sentence count

174

Harmful content

Hate speech

1

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

In this episode, we discuss the implications of Canada's decision to pull out of a deal to purchase F-35s from the United States, and the implications for the future of the alliance between Canada and the U.S.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
00:00:00.000 Do you think this moment for Sweden and Canada would have come without Donald Trump?
00:00:04.800 Well, in part, maybe no.
00:00:07.520 The pressure on us, it's that we have, you know, great interoperability
00:00:11.240 with the potential purchase of F-35s with the United States,
00:00:15.400 and particularly from a continental defence perspective, from a NORAD perspective.
00:00:19.920 That is significant. I had the U.S. ambassador essentially say, like,
00:00:23.140 NORAD could be up for discussion if Canada pulls out of this deal.
00:00:27.060 This Canadian government, it is so nice of them to put out a national emergency
00:00:33.380 that the U.S. ambassador is again speaking, watch out.
00:00:45.180 Canada is actually risking the possibility of being kicked out of NORAD
00:00:50.640 by the United States for the first time ever.
00:00:53.760 As Mark Carney, the Liberal Prime Minister, continues his agenda to move Canada
00:00:59.540 closer and closer to Europe and China and away from the U.S.A.
00:01:04.700 For the longest time, America and Canada have maintained one of the closest military cooperations in the world.
00:01:11.120 But this is all about to change with Mark Carney deciding to no longer use
00:01:16.220 American-made fighter jets for Canadian defence.
00:01:20.240 An unprecedented and ill-advised move, which is putting at risk the alliance
00:01:24.900 that has existed between these two countries for decades.
00:01:28.940 President Trump reacted to the situation in a recent statement.
00:01:33.000 You're going to want to watch till the end as we analyze this disaster.
00:01:37.220 Let's get into it.
00:01:38.320 Okay, so we have this conversation between a Canadian reporter
00:01:41.740 and the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, who recently came to visit
00:01:46.660 to try to lobby our government into buying their fighter jets
00:01:51.520 as opposed to the agreed-upon F-35s from Lockheed Martin.
00:01:56.600 You see, when Mark Carney won the election,
00:01:58.960 he shortly after decided to reconsider buying fighter jets from the U.S.A.
00:02:05.380 And we got this tweet here from CTV News, and it goes,
00:02:09.360 U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoextra previously told Power Play Canada and the U.S.,
00:02:15.400 quote, would have to have some kind of a discussion on NORAD, end quote,
00:02:20.920 if Canada doesn't buy the F-35s.
00:02:23.920 Let's have a listen.
00:02:24.780 Do you think this moment for Sweden and Canada would have come without Donald Trump?
00:02:29.240 Well, in part, maybe no.
00:02:32.380 I mean, I was here.
00:02:33.680 I'm coming back to Canada.
00:02:34.820 I was here as minister in my current position just two years ago with Minister Champagne,
00:02:42.220 looking into a lot of possible opportunities then.
00:02:46.200 A lot of that has gone from words to action and is also the reason why we are here.
00:02:51.180 But, of course, I mean, we still see the U.S. as our friends in Sweden,
00:02:56.720 but they have come so much more unpredictable.
00:02:59.700 And we are looking for partners that are not only transactional, like how can I profit for you,
00:03:06.940 but rather how can we both profit from this.
00:03:10.240 And this is also the message that Prime Minister Carney is sending throughout the world with all of the partnerships that he and the works that he's doing internationally.
00:03:20.400 is it needs to benefit the both of us.
00:03:24.200 And that's why I think Canada and Sweden also are a good match.
00:03:27.200 Have they indicated to you how soon they will make a decision?
00:03:29.940 No, and I think, I mean, this is something, decisions that have to be made in a very orderly manner.
00:03:39.260 But, I mean, Sweden is in Daft Punk mode, so we're ready to go, you know, faster, stronger, harder, better.
00:03:45.860 And that's what we're looking for now.
00:03:47.320 One final question, kind of bridging your last two answers.
00:03:50.620 So the pressure on us is not just a money thing, right?
00:03:54.340 It's that we have, you know, great interoperability with the potential purchase of F-35s with the United States.
00:04:00.480 She's basically talking about the compatibility of, you know, the whole NORAD thing, right?
00:04:06.160 This alliance between Canada and the United States, if you're using different equipment, right?
00:04:13.180 Forget about the fact that that signals to the United States that Canada is just moving away from its traditional alliance.
00:04:20.060 You're looking at the reality that Canada depends heavily on the United States for its defense.
00:04:25.980 That's just a fact.
00:04:26.960 Canada depends a lot on America for its defense.
00:04:29.860 And so if Canada won't be buying military equipment from the USA anymore, then what's the point?
00:04:36.160 You might need to reconsider everything at that point.
00:04:39.600 Then there's the issue of compatibility.
00:04:42.220 If you're having a completely different fighter jet, an inferior fighter jet, because of, come on, Canada itself has previously determined that the F-35 is the superior fighter jet.
00:04:54.840 So this is not even open to debate anymore.
00:04:57.680 Then that part will also then show quite great weakness.
00:05:02.140 And that weakness will be taken advantage of.
00:05:05.140 And I say this as a country who have been a very close ally to the NATO, but that we're not full-on members.
00:05:13.280 We say...
00:05:14.140 It actually shows friendship and loyalty.
00:05:16.460 You're buying military equipment from the country whose military basically protects you.
00:05:23.940 That's just friendship and loyalty is what it is.
00:05:26.140 But she's going to say what she has to say because she has to represent her country and her country's interest.
00:05:31.100 And her interest is to sell inferior fighter jets to Canada from Sweden.
00:05:36.200 Okay, so here's the report regarding the fighter jet competition that we're now having in Canada over the F-35s versus the Swedish ones.
00:05:45.700 The president and CEO of Saab, Mikael Johansson, confirmed he's talked with Ottawa about making grippens in Canada.
00:05:53.860 He's also met with companies including Bombardier, CAE and IMP in Nova Scotia.
00:05:59.460 It's important for Canada to have sovereign capability in Canada to do their own upgrades, to build parts of it, to do final assembly and tests.
00:06:08.340 We, as Saab, we are prepared to do that technology transfer to Canada and support that buildup.
00:06:13.700 This would be contingent, of course, on Canada adding the grippens to its military fleet. 1.00
00:06:18.880 It could also lead to the building of a new facility, a hub of source, where jets could be made not just for Canada but other nations, including Ukraine.
00:06:27.220 It makes sense to have a big footprint in Canada together with Canadian industry.
00:06:32.480 So it's absolutely a benefit for us to do that.
00:06:35.600 The delegation from Sweden, led by the king and queen of this country here, is headed to Canada next week with the aim of strengthening ties.
00:06:42.840 Yeah, the Swedes are just trying to sell their product.
00:06:46.220 I mean, I don't blame them.
00:06:48.020 But at the end of the day, Canada's loyalty should be closer to the USA.
00:06:51.900 Again, from a defense perspective, the United States protects Canada, directly or indirectly.
00:06:58.740 So if you decide to now prop up another country, not only could we have compatibility issues with our equipment, but also that speaks of a lack of loyalty.
00:07:10.100 And again, like I said previously, Canada itself has already determined that the F-35 is the superior tested fighter jet.
00:07:17.220 It just is.
00:07:17.820 Here's a tweet from CPAC, Prime Politics.
00:07:21.040 Should Canada purchase Saab's grip and fighter jets or invest in the F-35?
00:07:25.880 Canada did a comparison of the two jets some years ago, and the F-35 was the better option.
00:07:31.260 Let's have a quick listen.
00:07:32.540 In reviewing the grip and proposal, the industry minister is essentially saying that it does come with greater industrial benefits at this moment in time.
00:07:40.000 And she's talking about thousands of potential jobs for this country, plus an R&D centre to be established in Canada.
00:07:47.480 By comparison, how does that stack up with what's on the table with Lockheed Martin and the F-35?
00:07:54.280 So to answer the question directly, I mean, it's just different because the nature of the participation with the F-35 is different.
00:08:00.900 But take a step back and say that not very many years ago, we ran a competition where we evaluated both of these options.
00:08:07.540 It's the airplanes themselves, their military capability, the cost of the proposals, as well as the economic benefit proposals.
00:08:15.460 So we not very long ago went and did a comparison side-by-side of these exact same alternatives.
00:08:20.860 So it's a little curious that we're here now having a conversation about the one that we didn't select being better.
00:08:26.640 Because at the time, what was articulated was that the proposal from Lockheed Martin for the F-35 was the best one all around.
00:08:33.960 There it is.
00:08:34.600 The F-35 was the better jet.
00:08:36.120 But Canada has already tested both, compared head-to-head.
00:08:41.580 And unsurprisingly, the F-35 was the better fighter jet.
00:08:45.780 The United States is not the most powerful country with the most powerful military out of coincidence.
00:08:52.000 All right?
00:08:52.460 They just make the best equipment.
00:08:54.480 They just do.
00:08:55.840 Proven.
00:08:56.520 Proven in the battlefield.
00:08:58.040 And again, not only does this have to do with the fact that you want the best possible equipment,
00:09:02.200 but it's also a matter of compatibility.
00:09:03.760 When you have incredible levels of integration and cooperation between your two militaries,
00:09:10.680 and you bring equipment that isn't built by that environment, by that ecosystem,
00:09:17.340 that may not be compatible, may not work in the best way possible.
00:09:22.060 It's just not a good idea.
00:09:25.360 And then again, I always go back to this.
00:09:27.640 It speaks to loyalty.
00:09:29.320 Speaking from the USA's perspective.
00:09:31.740 If we de facto protect Canada, and they don't even buy our equipment as a sign of gratitude,
00:09:38.640 which is something that has been happening for decades.
00:09:41.360 It's Canada, bought equipment from the USA.
00:09:44.540 What's the point?
00:09:45.960 And that is why the United States is recalibrating its approach around the world.
00:09:50.060 Here's this clip of Mark Carney talking about how Canada is the most European, non-European country,
00:09:55.900 and how Canada is going to move closer and closer to Europe.
00:09:59.520 Basically, in their plan of a one-world government, God forbid, people have independent countries,
00:10:06.840 independent nations, individual nations with their own costumes, their own laws.
00:10:12.660 No, no, no.
00:10:13.300 These people are pushing for a one-world government, and Mark Carney is one of those people.
00:10:20.720 Let's have a listen to what he had to say a few months back.
00:10:22.620 And we really have two choices as a jurisdiction, as a country, in this circumstance.
00:10:29.100 We can nostalgically look back and long for the old order to somehow return,
00:10:34.700 or we can build a new one with purpose and partnership.
00:10:40.020 And as the most European of the non-European countries, Canada looks first to the European Union.
00:10:47.000 Canada looks first to the European Union.
00:10:49.320 According to Mark Carney, we are the most European, non-European country.
00:10:54.960 We're not North American anymore.
00:10:56.700 You know, we're not closest to the United States.
00:10:59.280 No, no, no.
00:10:59.800 We're the closest to Europe.
00:11:01.760 And I would add China.
00:11:03.300 He's also said that multiple times, that Canada is going to develop a strategic partnership with China.
00:11:09.620 And we all know that Mark Carney, because he's up to China every opportunity he gets.
00:11:14.440 No wonder Trump is irritated.
00:11:16.140 People wonder, oh, why is Donald Trump mad at Canada?
00:11:19.620 What's going on?
00:11:20.240 Why is he always picking on Canada?
00:11:22.420 It's for things like this.
00:11:24.340 We are led by a World Economic Forum talking head who is pushing for a one-world government,
00:11:32.460 causing up to China, and saying that Canada is actually closest to Europe,
00:11:37.220 and not North America and the United States.
00:11:40.480 So how has President Trump reacted to all of this?
00:11:44.020 Well, he is doing what President Donald Trump does.
00:11:47.020 He's making deals.
00:11:49.040 Here we have a tweet from Defense Intelligence Breaking.
00:11:51.660 Trump reveals a historic deal with Saudi Arabia, designating them as a major non-NATO ally.
00:11:58.840 After the F-35 deal, so just made a deal with Saudi Arabia, upgrading them to a closer ally,
00:12:07.060 which is huge, because that region is a conflict region, as we all know, the Middle East.
00:12:12.640 And not only are they closer allies, but they're buying those F-35s that Canada,
00:12:17.320 look at how crazy this world has become.
00:12:19.460 Canada is reconsidering whether to buy fighter jets from the USA and risking their position in NORAD,
00:12:27.780 and now Saudi Arabia has become a closer ally with the United States by buying a multitude of F-35s.
00:12:36.020 Tweet continues,
00:12:37.180 This is another major development.
00:12:39.340 This move opens the door for top-tier U.S. military gear, including nearly 300 tanks.
00:12:45.920 That's no small order.
00:12:47.760 That's huge.
00:12:48.900 That's huge.
00:12:49.880 The Middle East normally buys from communist countries.
00:12:52.640 I think they buy from Russia and such.
00:12:55.080 And they're now buying from the USA.
00:12:57.640 So that's a big, big pivot.
00:13:00.480 We officially designated the kingdom yesterday as the major non-NATO ally.
00:13:07.320 That's a big deal.
00:13:09.460 That's actually a very big deal.
00:13:11.520 We're always training very well for that.
00:13:18.240 That happens seldom, very seldom, if at all.
00:13:23.460 So I just want to congratulate you on that.
00:13:25.620 That's a sign of trust.
00:13:26.800 We signed a historic strategic defense agreement yesterday also,
00:13:32.740 and that's something that is likewise very rare,
00:13:37.240 and it's a very honored company that you're in.
00:13:41.520 And we're going to be selling Saudi Arabia some of the greatest military equipment ever built.
00:13:46.960 We build the best military equipment in the world by far.
00:13:50.300 That's why we do the most business,
00:13:52.800 including nearly 300 American-made tanks is what you're buying,
00:13:57.680 among many other things, the airplanes.
00:14:00.660 And we're working on getting that approved very quickly.
00:14:02.900 It's already approved, but don't worry.
00:14:04.600 Well, there you go.
00:14:05.900 So as Canada moves closer and closer to China and Europe,
00:14:09.680 you got newfound allies for the United States.
00:14:14.560 As Canada reconsiders its purchase of U.S. military equipment,
00:14:19.560 which is proven the best in the world,
00:14:22.660 you got other countries coming in to purchase said equipment.
00:14:26.720 Crazy times.
00:14:44.560 There you go.
00:15:07.380 There we go.
00:15:07.560 Everybody else have been smoking.
00:15:07.840 There we go.
00:15:08.220 There we go.
00:15:08.380 There we go.
00:15:08.880 There we go.
00:15:10.440 Thank you.