Mending broken relationships is hard enough, but between countries?
Canada and the U.S. have had a long, long relationship that has often benefited both nations. Unfortunately, with the recent Canada-U.S. Trade War and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation, it appears unlikely that this now-fractured partnership can be repaired.
Especially now that the majority of Canadians view the U.S. as a major threat.
FROM ALLY TO THREAT
In a recent study published by Pew Research Center, 31,938 adults across 25 countries were surveyed from January 8 to April 26, 2025. The findings revealed that most Europeans name Russia as a top threat while those in Asian-Pacific countries name China.
For 59% of Canadians, they believe that the U.S. is their top threat.
This study comes six years after Pew Research Center’s previous study where they asked the same question, but with slightly different– although comparable– wording. At that time, only 20% of Canadians named the U.S. as a top threat. That number has since tripled.
Interestingly enough, this current study also reveals that 55% of Canadians also name the U.S. as their top ally.
CHANGING PERCEPTIONS
A related study published on May 1, 2025 asked U.S. citizens who they viewed as their top allies and threats.
37% of Americans said that they were unsure, while the United Kingdom was mentioned most often at 18%. Canada comes in second at 12%, and then Israel at 9%.
“The share naming Canada as the top U.S. ally has doubled from 6% since we last asked this question in 2023,” said the study. “Democrats have become more likely to say that Canada is the most important ally (19% vs. 9% in 2023), while Republicans’ views have not shifted.”
It is clear that perceptions are changing throughout both Canada and the U.S., with Canadians nearly tied in their opinions on their downstairs neighbours and Americans seemingly viewing Canadians more as allies.
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