Canada Might Prove That Fossil Fuels Are NOT A Geopolitical Strength

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In most schoolyards, there are a few bullies. Later in life, it’s easy to see that these kids suffer from severe insecurities, often stemming from problems at home. To compensate for this insecurity, bullies try to project an image of strength by bossing other kids around and even getting physically abusive. The insecurity never goes away, but it does keep them from being bullied, because they’re too busy being the bully.

There’s one thing that stops them: someone standing up for themselves. Whether a would-be victim (often an awkward smart kid or someone with a mild disability) uses verbal self defense or physically fights off the bully, it changes the whole calculation. Like a predator in nature, a bully isn’t looking for impressive fights. They’re often looking for someone who will run away or cower, proving that the bully is strong without a fight. When someone puts up real resistance and threatens the bully’s social standing, they’re not worth the risk. Sometimes, the kid who stands up to the bully ends up becoming their friend, oddly enough!

Sadly, this same problem exists all the way into adulthood and all the way up into the international stage. Pathetic kleptocrats and conmen like Donald Trump think that the only way to project strength is with abusive behavior, and completely reject the idea of things like soft power. So, they go around looking for people to pick on who they think will be easy targets. Sometimes, they try to pick on a state government. Other times, they try to bully neighboring countries into submission.

It seems that Canada isn’t going to be an easy target this time, though. Amid threats to annex Canada, followed by threats of economic sanctions and steep tariffs, Canada wants to make it clear that the Great White North isn’t going to bend over and take it.

Ironically, one of the things far right figures claims to be a strength is turning out to be a weakness Canada could use as a pressure point to rein in Donald Trump’s excesses. It turns out that the United States is a lot more dependent on fossil fuels from Canada than many people think. Canada is actually the largest supplier of imported energy, including 60% of crude oil, 98% of gas, 93% of electricity, and 28% of uranium imports. This is only a percentage of imports and not overall energy use in the United States, but it’s still a big enough chunk to be a major pain point should Canada turn off the spigot.

Ontario’s Premier appeared in public wearing a blue “Canada Is Not For Sale” ball cap and announced an intention to use this weakness should Trump try to level tariffs at Canada or otherwise try to bully the country into complying with unreasonable demands. Western Canada would obviously not be happy if sales stopped, but even a short-term cut in exports would still force Trump back to the bargaining table on more even footing.

Whether this ends up being a game of chicken or a serious card up Canada’s long, insulated sleeve, this proves one thing: fossil fuel dependence isn’t the strength that Republicans claim it to be. Being vulnerable to losing supplies from neighbors is a lot worse than depending on the sun and the wind for energy. After all, the sun may be “intermittent,” but it never plays politics.

Featured image by NASA, showing North America from space.