James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
In an increasingly volatile global landscape, the CANZUK nations are confronting unprecedented challenges from multiple fronts. Recent actions by the United States under President Donald Trump, including tariff threats and provocative rhetoric on territorial annexation, have strained longstanding alliances.
Simultaneously, aggressive maneuvers from adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran threaten the shared values of democracy, rule of law, and economic stability that bind the CANZUK countries together.
President Trump’s administration has imposed significant tariffs on Canadian exports, escalating to levels that have raised the overall U.S. tariff rate to an estimated 27%—the highest in over a century. These measures, often framed as leverage in broader disputes, have been explicitly linked to pressures for Canada to consider closer integration with the U.S., including repeated suggestions of annexation as the 51st state.
President Trump’s administration has imposed significant tariffs on Canadian exports, escalating to levels that have raised the overall U.S. tariff rate to an estimated 27%—the highest in over a century. These measures, often framed as leverage in broader disputes, have been explicitly linked to pressures for Canada to consider closer integration with the U.S., including repeated suggestions of annexation as the 51st state.
Trump has even shared maps depicting Canada under the U.S. flag, alongside similar claims over Greenland and Venezuela, signaling a transactional approach to international relations that prioritizes American interests. This has prompted Canada to explore alternative economic partnerships, including deeper ties with China, as a hedge against U.S. unpredictability.
The ripple effects extend to the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, as tariff threats over issues like Greenland opposition have targeted European allies, including the UK, with 10% duties potentially rising to 25%.
Compounding these tensions are the persistent aggressions from authoritarian regimes. China has intensified its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, conducting live-fire exercises near Australia and New Zealand without prior notice, forcing rerouting of commercial flights and heightening regional instability. Warships have circumnavigated Australia’s coastline, staging unprecedented drills close to Sydney, while aggressive behaviors in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait continue to challenge Australian and New Zealand security interests.
In Canada, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on exports like canola and pork in response to U.S.-aligned policies, and accusations of economic coercion persist. The UK has faced similar pressures, with China’s assertiveness in Hong Kong raising concerns over human rights and global norms.
Russia’s actions further exacerbate the threats, with a sustained campaign of subversion and sabotage across Europe, including arson and cyber attacks targeting the UK and other NATO members. Airspace violations over the UK, Canada, and allied territories in 2025, alongside support for proxy conflicts, underscore Moscow’s intent to undermine Western unity. In the Arctic, Russian probes test Canadian defenses, while Australia and New Zealand contend with indirect fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through disrupted global supply chains.
Iran’s regime, meanwhile, has extended its repression beyond borders, engaging in transnational threats against dissidents in Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Amid internal protests in 2026 that have drawn international condemnation for state violence, Iran’s warnings of retaliation and support for proxy groups pose risks to CANZUK citizens abroad. The UK, alongside allies, has imposed sanctions and urged restraint, but the regime’s aggressive posture continues to destabilize the Middle East and beyond.
These multifaceted pressures highlight the vulnerabilities of acting in isolation. The only path forward for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to safeguard their shared values, freedoms, and economic resilience is through a formalized CANZUK alliance. By deepening cooperation in defense, trade, and diplomacy, and building on successes like AUKUS and aviation reforms, CANZUK can emerge as a beacon of stability and prosperity, setting a shining example for the world in an era of uncertainty.
A CANZUK alliance would not only strengthen collective security and economic independence in the face of external coercion and great-power rivalry, it would reaffirm the enduring bonds of shared history, language, legal traditions, and democratic principles that already unite our four nations. In an age when alliances are increasingly tested and transactional relationships prove unreliable, CANZUK offers a principled, forward-looking partnership rooted in mutual respect and common purpose.
By acting decisively now to formalize this cooperation, the CANZUK nations can protect their sovereignty, ensure long-term prosperity for their citizens, and send a powerful message to the world: free and open societies remain capable of uniting for the common good, without compromising their independence or values.
The ripple effects extend to the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, as tariff threats over issues like Greenland opposition have targeted European allies, including the UK, with 10% duties potentially rising to 25%.
Compounding these tensions are the persistent aggressions from authoritarian regimes. China has intensified its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, conducting live-fire exercises near Australia and New Zealand without prior notice, forcing rerouting of commercial flights and heightening regional instability. Warships have circumnavigated Australia’s coastline, staging unprecedented drills close to Sydney, while aggressive behaviors in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait continue to challenge Australian and New Zealand security interests.
In Canada, China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on exports like canola and pork in response to U.S.-aligned policies, and accusations of economic coercion persist. The UK has faced similar pressures, with China’s assertiveness in Hong Kong raising concerns over human rights and global norms.
Russia’s actions further exacerbate the threats, with a sustained campaign of subversion and sabotage across Europe, including arson and cyber attacks targeting the UK and other NATO members. Airspace violations over the UK, Canada, and allied territories in 2025, alongside support for proxy conflicts, underscore Moscow’s intent to undermine Western unity. In the Arctic, Russian probes test Canadian defenses, while Australia and New Zealand contend with indirect fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through disrupted global supply chains.
Iran’s regime, meanwhile, has extended its repression beyond borders, engaging in transnational threats against dissidents in Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Amid internal protests in 2026 that have drawn international condemnation for state violence, Iran’s warnings of retaliation and support for proxy groups pose risks to CANZUK citizens abroad. The UK, alongside allies, has imposed sanctions and urged restraint, but the regime’s aggressive posture continues to destabilize the Middle East and beyond.
These multifaceted pressures highlight the vulnerabilities of acting in isolation. The only path forward for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to safeguard their shared values, freedoms, and economic resilience is through a formalized CANZUK alliance. By deepening cooperation in defense, trade, and diplomacy, and building on successes like AUKUS and aviation reforms, CANZUK can emerge as a beacon of stability and prosperity, setting a shining example for the world in an era of uncertainty.
A CANZUK alliance would not only strengthen collective security and economic independence in the face of external coercion and great-power rivalry, it would reaffirm the enduring bonds of shared history, language, legal traditions, and democratic principles that already unite our four nations. In an age when alliances are increasingly tested and transactional relationships prove unreliable, CANZUK offers a principled, forward-looking partnership rooted in mutual respect and common purpose.
By acting decisively now to formalize this cooperation, the CANZUK nations can protect their sovereignty, ensure long-term prosperity for their citizens, and send a powerful message to the world: free and open societies remain capable of uniting for the common good, without compromising their independence or values.
Heading photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street – Licensed under the Open Government Licence
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