Plausibility of Canada exiting NATO

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?
 

Delta Force

Banned
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.
 
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.

Withdrawing from NATO is not the same as withdrawing from NORAD. Two different treaties. If he wanted to Trudeau could plausibly sell it as saving money that would then be spent on upgraded air defences assigned to NORAD.

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.
 

Flubber

Banned
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?

Canada must have been close to that in the late 70's early 80's given the missions we were expected to undertake in case of war. I am saying this as a Canadian who has studied that era as best I can and examined many sources basically saying the same thing.
 
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?

I could see this being relevant in the timeline I am working on. Basically the Canadian Contingent is reduced following unification to a couple CF-5 squadrons and a small mechanized force. NATO may just say its not worth the effort for integration. The force could operate under the pretense of maintaining a Canadian presence and if things did escalate the size would increase.
 
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