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The presence of U.S. military personnel in Canada has a rich history rooted in close bilateral cooperation. While there are no American military bases currently stationed in Canada, there are 156 active-duty members of the U.S. military deployed across the country. This small number represents a fraction of the U.S. military’s global deployment of more than 165,000 troops in over 170 countries and territories.
Why Are U.S. Troops Stationed in Canada?
Most of the U.S. troops in Canada support the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad), a binational organization dedicated to protecting North America from aerial and missile threats. Around 50 U.S. Air Force personnel are stationed at Canadian bases in North Bay, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, to collaborate closely with Canadian counterparts under Norad’s mandate.
“Norad’s operation hinges on seamless cooperation between the U.S. and Canada,” explained Stephen Saideman, Chair of International Affairs at Carleton University. “Canadians are also stationed at Norad headquarters in Colorado, demonstrating the reciprocal nature of this relationship.”
Beyond Norad, American military personnel in Canada serve in diverse roles, such as defense attachés at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, students at Canadian military colleges, and coordinators working alongside Canadian troops across the country. These personnel span multiple branches of the U.S. military, including 69 from the Air Force, 36 from the Navy, 29 from the Army, 15 from the Marine Corps, 4 from the Coast Guard, and 3 from Space Force.
Historical Context
The collaboration between Canada and the U.S. in defense matters is not new. During World War II and the Cold War, Canada hosted U.S. military installations as part of joint defense efforts. Over time, this relationship evolved into one of the world’s most integrated defense partnerships.
“Canada and the U.S. have longstanding exchange programs where soldiers serve on each other’s soil,” noted Aaron Ettinger, a political scientist at Carleton University. “This is an essential component of our mature North American defense relationship.”
Should Canadians Be Concerned?
Despite the occasional controversial remark by former President Donald Trump—such as suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state or using economic leverage to gain control over the country—experts argue there is little cause for concern.
“Trump’s comments are just trash talk,” Ettinger emphasized. “Canadians should be no more worried about the 156 U.S. troops here than Europeans are about the tens of thousands stationed in Germany.”
The U.S.-Canada defense partnership, marked by mutual respect and deep integration, remains strong. Political science professor Frédéric Labarre from the Military College of Canada highlighted that this collaboration is “one of the finest examples of bilateral integration” and is unlikely to waver.
A Unique Defense Partnership
Canada and the U.S. share the world’s longest peaceful border and have a history of fighting alongside each other in major global conflicts over the past century. This enduring partnership requires extensive peacetime collaboration to ensure preparedness during wartime.
For example, a Canadian rear admiral currently serves as vice-commander of the U.S. Navy’s East Coast and North Atlantic fleet. Such examples underscore the depth of trust and cooperation between the two nations.
“Disrupting this relationship, even through political pressure, would ironically hinder the close coordination we’ve built,” said Rob Huebert, a defense expert at the University of Calgary. “But short of a major military invasion—which is inconceivable—any attempts to assert American control would likely disrupt rather than strengthen our integrated defense systems.”
Ultimately, the presence of U.S. troops in Canada is not a reflection of dominance but rather a testament to the enduring trust and shared goals of two allied nations committed to mutual defense.
