What would the plausibility of Canada withdrawing from NATO or ending their European commitments (5CMBG and 1CAG) under the Trudeau government during the late sixties/early seventies. Also what would be the consequences of this action?
Unlikely, as Canada would be ground zero for any war between the Soviets and Americans. If they remain an American ally they get America to help them fight off Soviet bombers and missiles before they reach the population belt in the South. Leaving NATO means that Canada gets to have both sides fighting in its airspace, likely right over its own population centers. America was perfectly willing to have nuclear weapons explode over Canada to save itself even while they were NORAD and NATO partners (the US deployment of nuclear SAMs and ABMs to the border is what led them to accept nuclear BOMARCs), without an alliance they will care even less because Canada's lack of cooperation will be putting them both at risk. In a World War III scenario Canada will be assured of destruction, as if the Soviets don't drop nuclear bombs on their cities American missiles and interceptors will detonate above them instead.
Personally I don't think he would have exited NATO as membership gave him a seat at the table but he certainly wanted to (and did) massively cut the forces assigned.
That brings up a tangential question, has any NATO member been told "Don't bother, your forces aren't worth the effort of integrating them'? Not actually kicked out the alliance because that would make for bad press, but told the alliance isn't counting on them for anything but moral support?
That brings up a tangential question, has any NATO member been told "Don't bother, your forces aren't worth the effort of integrating them'? Not actually kicked out the alliance because that would make for bad press, but told the alliance isn't counting on them for anything but moral support?