1. US-CANADA SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
   • Introduction

• Canada and the US have deep cultural, geographic and political relations that stem beyond governmental relations:
• Shared border – c.9,000 miles long
• Shared language (except Quebec), strong cultural and economic ties.
• They have not been to war since 1812

• “Special Relationship” in the military sphere

• NORTHCOM and NORTHAD
• Treaties with respect to space relations:
  • 2009 U.S. and Canada Agreement on Civil Space Cooperation https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/sep/HQ_09-206_CSA_Agreement.html

2. THREATS TO THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: STRATEGIC MISALIGNMENT OR SHORT TERM “BUMPS IN THE ROAD”

• Key Strategic Threats

• Joint threats: China, North Korea, Russia and Iran.
  • While these countries all pose strategic threats to both US and Canada; relations between these countries and the US/Canada are drastically different:
  • Canada’s relationship with China
    • Trump considers China to be US’s biggest strategic threat.
    • Canada and China have significant and deep relations – particularly in the natural resources sector. The China relationship is of significant strategic importance to Canada. How can Canada maintain an appropriate balance?
      • “Canada could productively operate in two facilitative modes: as a convening force and as an innovation source. To operate as a convening force means to provide the venue and forum within which the principal agents may better advance their engagement. It does not mean to be a “mediator,” which would be a direct rather than facilitative role. It may mean providing a nurturing environment for low-key meetings or other expert exchanges at either official or Track Two diplomatic levels. But operating as a convening force can be less direct as well. For example, in pursuing project cooperation with China, Canada might prioritize initiatives that would also enable a US role (perhaps more remotely, perhaps not immediately) or at least have Canada-US counterpart initiatives. Such a focus would be especially useful in areas in which direct US-China engagement is most problematic, such as in inter-military contacts or analysis of longer-term prospects for military uses of space.” http://www.queensu.ca/cidp/can-us_defence_relations

• Canada’s artic security
  • Trump’s relationship with Russia
    • This will significantly affect Canada’s ability to protect itself especially regarding artic security.

• Strategic v Political disagreements

• Impact of political volatility against strategic stability. i.e. Trump
• Is it prudent and/or realistic for Canada to develop independent space capability from US
• Will Trudeau seek to strengthen ties with China, despite that potentially upsetting the US/Canada equilibrium

3. CONCLUSION

• Space relations can’t be considered in a vacuum: these questions are vital in examining Canada’s place in the world order.
• Canada cannot and should not extricate itself from its inter(or just dependence) on the United States.
  • Better to be a powerful insider than a soft outsider
• At the same time, Canada should develop a distinct voice to allow Canada to play a facilitative role in the United States’ space relations with the rest of the world, especially China.

References

• Book: Securing Outer Space: International Relations Theory and the Politics of Space – Natalie Bormann and Michael Sheehan
• http://www.queensu.ca/cidp/can-us_defence_relations
• http://jpia.princeton.edu/sites/jpia/files/2008-10.pdf
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-forces-put-their-1st-satellite-in-orbit-1.1338715
• http://spaceref.ca/space-policy/canada-as-a-facilitator-for-us-china-relations.html

15 PAGES MUST HAVE LITERARY REVIEW

SUMMARY SHOULD TRY POSE SOME TYPE OF RECOMMENDATION

IN ADDITION, AS I ALREADY STATED THE PROF. SAID I SHOULD RATHER FOCUS ON SPACE RELATIONS COMPARING TRUDEAU SENIOR VS JUNIOR LESS FOCUS ON TRUMP RATHER CANADA- US RELATIONS  WITH REGARDS TO SPACE