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Canada's Plan In Case of US Invasion - Video học tiếng Anh
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Canada's Plan In Case of US Invasion
Canada's Plan In Case of US Invasion
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Subtitles (179)
0:00
Canadian troops prepare to defend their nation, as helicopters hover overhead and tanks
0:04
stand-by - but this isn’t just any invading force they’re facing… it’s the United States of America.
0:10
Here’s how Canada plans to defend itself from an American attack.
0:13
Canada and the US have long been firm friends. However,
0:16
with relations between the two nations no longer as strong as they once were,
0:20
the idea of an American invasion has gone from impossible to an unlikely but possible scenario.
0:26
It’s something Canada has to prepare for - but it faces two enormous and even
0:30
insurmountable challenges. The first is the border.
0:33
The Canada-United States border is the longest in the world, divided into two sections. The
0:38
first section, nearly 1,500 miles (2,414 km), separates Canada’s western regions of Yukon
0:43
and British Columbia from the American state of Alaska. The second, even longer section,
0:49
runs nearly 4,000 miles (6,437 km), separating Canada from the contiguous United States.
0:53
The vast majority of Canada’s 40 million people live close to that border,
0:57
with many of the country’s biggest cities in the area. This includes the capital of Ottawa,
1:02
as well as Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg.
1:07
Defending such a long and crowded border is a huge challenge. US forces could basically
1:12
pick almost any spot to strike. Canada doesn’t have enough people to defend the whole border,
1:16
so it would have to rely on intelligence tools to figure out where and when an American attack might
1:21
happen - and then focus its resources there. And leads us to the second challenge:
1:25
the sheer difference in military might. On Global Firepower’s military rankings for 2026,
1:31
the United States holds the top spot – a position it has held without contest, year after year.
1:36
It spends more on its military than anyone else, always boosting its defense budget to
1:41
stay the top, toughest force on the planet. The US has one of the world’s largest armies,
1:46
with more than 1.3 million active-duty personnel and close to 800,000 more in reserve.
1:52
The US has some of the most powerful ground forces ever assembled, with thousands of tanks
1:56
and hundreds of thousands of armored vehicles ready to roll out at a moment’s notice. Its
2:01
air force is just as impressive, packed with helicopters, fighter jets, bombers,
2:05
and all kinds of aircraft ready to dominate the skies. At sea, it’s almost unbeatable, with
2:10
11 aircraft carriers, more than 80 destroyers, dozens of submarines, and countless other ships.
2:16
To top it all off, the US has some of the best-trained soldiers on earth,
2:19
with extensive experience of military operations all over the world. America is also one of the
2:24
world’s nine nuclear powers, with an arsenal of over 5,000 warheads.
2:29
By just about every measure that counts, Canada’s military doesn’t come anywhere close.
2:34
Even though Canada is huge - the second biggest country in the world, stretching over 3.8 million
2:40
square miles (9.9 million square kilometers) - its military only ranks 28th globally. That’s behind
2:44
much smaller countries like Thailand and Vietnam, and roughly on par with places like Singapore,
2:49
Greece, and North Korea. For a country this big,
2:52
Canada’s army is tiny - about 63,500 active soldiers and 23,000 more in reserve
2:59
Canada’s military also lacks the kind of advanced equipment and strength in depth that the US has.
3:04
Sure, it has some land forces, but fewer than 100 tanks and about 21,800 armored vehicles ready for
3:11
combat - a tiny fraction of what the US has. Canada’s air force has a decent mix of planes,
3:16
like F/A-18s, CP-140 Auroras, and C-130s, but it’s no match for the US in numbers
3:23
or firepower. At sea, it’s the same story - only 67 key ships, a handful of subs, and some
3:29
frigates and patrol boats to guard its coasts. The comparison paints a very clear picture.
3:34
The US military is much stronger than Canada’s and a straight-up fight would almost certainly end in
3:40
a total American win. But, war’s never that simple. History shows it’s not just about who
3:45
has more or bigger forces - smaller countries can still cause trouble with clever tactics,
3:50
slow things down, or inflict real damage even against a much stronger opponent.
3:55
And that’s what Canada’s plan ultimately boils down to.
3:58
Before the invasion even begins, Canada would be counting on its intelligence sharing agreements
4:03
with various allies around the world. State-of-the-art surveillance systems
4:06
would detect any suspicious signs on the other side of its border. And since the US would need
4:11
to gather a huge force to launch a quick, successful attack on Canada, Ottawa wouldn’t
4:16
take long to notice the buildup. That’s where the pre-invasion
4:19
period becomes crucial. Canada’s commanders would
4:22
have to boost defenses, call up reserves, activate the Canadian Rangers, and keep a
4:26
closer eye on the remote stretches of the border. Canada would also put its Cyber Command teams
4:31
to work, shoring up defenses for key government systems, banks, and international communications
4:35
networks. Publicly, the messaging would stay calm and measured to avoid panicking people.
4:40
But behind the scenes diplomats would be working nonstop, contacting allies like the UK, France,
4:46
Japan, and Australia, laying the groundwork for quick responses, interventions,
4:50
and diplomatic options if things got worse. This would allow Canada to prepare itself for
4:54
whatever comes next, before a single was fired or a single pair of American boots has stepped onto
4:59
its soil. Commanders would continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, deploying armed
5:04
troops to key locations along the border. With Canada’s surveillance systems and
5:08
intelligence, the US would find it difficult to launch any sort of surprise attack. Instead,
5:13
it would rely on sheer numbers and strength to overwhelm its opponent.
5:16
US forces would likely start massing inland and moving toward the border, probably focusing
5:21
on major population and political centers like Toronto and Ottawa. The goal would be obvious.
5:26
Take control of key infrastructure as quickly as possible, break through Canada’s defenses,
5:30
and put intense pressure on its leadership in hopes of forcing a swift surrender.
5:34
But surrender probably wouldn’t be high on most Canadians’ list.
5:38
At the very least, the armed forces would want to put up a serious fight - showing
5:42
the US they won’t just roll over, raise a white flag, and accept defeat.
5:45
The country would know that it would be at a severe disadvantage, but Canada would
5:49
have certain cards to play against their enemy. The objectives would revolve not around victory,
5:54
but instead on delaying and disrupting the invading force as deeply as possible. With
5:58
limited resources, Canada would try to inflict as much damage as possible while using its
6:03
home‑field advantage to buy time. The long term goal would be to call in help from allies and,
6:09
if possible, find a way to negotiate an end to the war before the US could take too much territory.
6:14
In this way, Canada would take inspiration from countries like Ukraine.
6:18
In its war with Russia, Ukraine knew right from day one that it didn’t have the military might,
6:23
manpower, or resources to go toe-to-toe with the Kremlin’s army. Instead,
6:27
it consistently focused on delaying and disrupting the Russian war machine. It used any advantage it
6:32
could get its hands on and relied on support from its allies across Europe and beyond.
6:37
Canada would have to do the same here. Canada would have to accept unavoidable
6:41
losses as American forces pushed across the border, capturing territory and taking over
6:45
towns and cities. It would know it couldn’t save them all, but it would fight to slow
6:50
the advance as much as possible. The opening 24 hours would be key.
6:54
As soon as an American invasion force arrives at Canada’s border, the Canadian government would
6:58
be compelled to declare a national emergency. Parliament would authorize emergency powers
7:04
and activate continuity plans. Canada’s military posture would
7:07
shift from peacetime to defensive, with forces spreading out at key locations along the border.
7:12
Rather than piling troops into a few key spots, Canada would likely spread them
7:16
out in small groups, leaning on volunteers and reservists wherever it can. Even though
7:21
there’s no conscription, its Chief of the Defense Staff, General Jennie Carignan,
7:25
does still have plans in place to create a 400,000 strong reserve force, made up of volunteers.
7:31
This would give the country a much more sizable army to call on, as and when the invasion kicks
7:36
off. While not all of those troops would have any serious levels of military training or experience,
7:40
they would be willing and able to lay their bodies on the line and defend their country.
7:45
Recent polling shows that 72% of Canadians would be willing to take some action to defend their
7:50
country. About 26% are ready to volunteer for civil defense, 13% for military service,
7:56
and roughly 15% - close to 5 million adults - would even engage in violent resistance.
8:01
So, while Canada’s army may look small on paper, the country actually has a
8:05
much larger force than it seems - with people of all ages and backgrounds ready to step up
8:10
As we’ve seen in Ukraine and elsewhere, these kinds of volunteer civilian militias
8:14
can be effective at delaying and disrupting enemy forces - even ones
8:18
that are much larger and better organized. Canada would be grateful for every single
8:23
able-bodied person that is prepared to fight. The various groups would
8:26
rapidly receive their orders and objectives. At the same time, the government would start
8:30
evacuation plans, moving as many people as possible out of major cities - and maybe even
8:35
out of the country entirely - seeking refuge in allied nations while the war continues.
8:39
Aircraft and naval forces would be moved away from obvious targets, and Canada’s strategy of
8:44
spreading out its troops and resources would help set the stage for the battles ahead.
8:48
By inflicting some early damage, Canada would make it clear that it intends to fight. After those
8:53
opening strikes, Canadian forces would likely pull back to safer positions. With American artillery,
8:57
missiles, drones, bombers, and jets overhead, staying in one place for long would be too
9:02
dangerous. Instead, Canada’s best chance to slow the war and delay US advances - and the
9:07
core of its entire strategy - would rely on insurgency tactics and unconventional warfare.
9:13
The US would be able to take control of Canada’s strategic land and sea positions in a matter of
9:18
days – or a week, at the most. So, Canada would have to take inspiration from other conflicts
9:22
throughout history in which smaller forces have successfully fended off bigger invaders.
9:27
And that doesn’t just include Ukraine vs. Russia. In fact, Canada’s military planning so far has
9:32
leaned toward a very different model- one inspired by the Afghan Mujahideen during
9:37
the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989. Back then, Afghan rebels were facing an
9:44
invasion by the Soviet Red Army, backed by Afghanistan’s own military. They were
9:48
badly outnumbered and outgunned, but they still managed to fight back by working in small groups,
9:53
using hit-and-run attacks, sabotage, and ambushes to harass their enemy and slowly grind them down.
9:59
Canada would have to do the same. It wouldn’t want to meet US forces in
10:03
large-scale clashes. America’s tanks, armor, and air support would simply be too strong to defeat.
10:08
Instead, Canadian troops and fighters would lean on their knowledge of the local terrain
10:12
and conditions, launching small, carefully timed attacks to catch the enemy off guard.
10:17
Everything would revolve around asymmetric and delay-oriented warfare.
10:20
Canada’s units could, for example, seek shelter in the rugged Northern and forest-covered regions,
10:25
carrying out guerilla attacks on American supply lines and chokepoints. They could also lay traps
10:30
or even prepare improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to use in ambushes against the enemy.
10:35
The Canadian Rangers would be particularly important here.
10:38
This special reserve force includes thousands of highly trained personnel with deep expertise in
10:43
remote surveillance and wilderness operations. The Rangers could act as scouts or local
10:48
defense leaders, guiding small groups and helping coordinate attacks to give each operation the best
10:53
chance of success while keeping losses low. Canadian Special Forces would also be key,
10:58
especially when it comes to coordinating high-value strikes on US communications
11:02
hubs and supply routes. They could plan attacks on key infrastructure - like bridges and rail
11:07
lines - to disrupt movement and make it harder for US forces to move troops, vehicles, and supplies
11:12
around as they push deeper into the country. Canada could also copy the Ukrainian tactic
11:17
of using drones to attack its enemy. This would be vital to taking out some
11:21
of Americas’ most valuable assets – like M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley
11:25
Fighting Vehicles – with well-placed strikes. Even if US forces attempted to counter these
11:30
tactics, there would be so many groups spread across the vast Canadian territory, it would
11:35
take a huge effort to hunt down all of them. And this would all play into Canada’s hands.
11:39
Because, once again, the objective here wouldn’t be to win militarily, but simply to keep Canada’s
11:44
defenses viable for as long as possible - all while inflicting maximum damage on the occupiers.
11:50
In the end, diplomacy would be Canada’s best - and really only - path to ending the war
11:54
as quickly as possible and reaching some kind of ceasefire with the United States. While evacuation
11:59
efforts continued through established safe corridors and out of the country,
12:02
Canada would have to lean heavily on its allies to provide humanitarian aid for those left behind.
12:07
At the same time, the country’s emergency services would be under enormous pressure,
12:12
working to supply food, water, and safe shelter for civilians caught in the middle.
12:16
As a NATO member, Canada would also have to consider invoking Article 5
12:19
of the North Atlantic Treaty. This calls on political, material, and even military
12:24
support from other members of the alliance. The problem with that plan is that the US
12:28
is a founding member of NATO, and Article 5 specifically refers to attacks from external
12:33
parties, not member states. It would put NATO in completely uncharted territory.
12:38
Member states would have to figure out how to respond to a situation where the
12:42
alliance is effectively turning on itself and undermining the very principles it was built on.
12:46
Given that reality, other NATO members - especially allies like the UK and
12:50
France - would be under enormous pressure to respond diplomatically and politically,
12:55
if not militarily. Discussions would likely focus on how to bring the conflict to a ceasefire
12:59
quickly and how to prevent the alliance from splintering. Any such invasion would undermine
13:04
the very principles NATO was founded on. The political and military effects
13:08
could extend far beyond North America, potentially risking global security and
13:12
forcing countries around the world to take sides. So while Canada clearly couldn’t stop a full‑scale
13:17
US invasion outright, the cost of carrying one out could be far higher than Washington might expect.
13:23
Canada would take heavy losses, but it could still make the most of its limited advantages
13:27
to strike back, all while clinging to the hope of a negotiated ceasefire or withdrawal.
13:32
Its goals would be to protect civilians, preserve sovereignty, and win international support. And,
13:37
if it played its cards right, it could achieve all three to varying degrees,
13:40
leaving the US in an increasingly difficult position the longer the conflict dragged on.
13:45
Now go check out ‘What If Canada Became the 51st State’. Or click on this video instead.
