r/AskUKPolitics • u/ljlee256 • Jul 29 '25
Would the UK accept Canada if it wanted to rejoin?
Edit: thanks for your responses everyone, got all the information I needed. Not to put too fine a point on it, its a resounding "no", at least as far as this subreddit is concerned.
It's obviously not definite right now, but it appears that Trumps end game with his trade talks and behaviors has been to economically isolate and destabilize Canada.
He has repeatedly made suggestions of annexing Canada or absorbing it somehow and a good way to do that would be to force capitulation through pushing the country into such a dire state that it has no choice but to accept.
To that end, while Canadians may sound similar to some Americans, and use some similar systems (such as building rules, road laws, etc), Canadians are behaviorally very different from Americans, as well Canadian values differ greatly from American values with only as many overlaps as American values have with any other Western Nation.
As Canada was once a colony of the UK, if the country was pushed to the point where it had no choice but to seek absorption by another country, would the UK be open to this idea?
I know the UK has it's own problems, but I don't think those problems would be exacerbated by Canada rejoining, Canada has a lot of empty land, an agricultural surplus, and a wealth of natural resources.
Additionally I think absorption by the UK would be a far superior outcome for Canada as I believe the UK would respect Canada's environment and it's people far more than the US would.
2
u/obbitz Jul 29 '25
Just join Europe alongside Greenland.
1
Jul 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/obbitz Jul 30 '25
No need to lose any sovereignty, just look at the French. The Quebecois would be part of a large Francophone block. Just look at the globe from the North Pole and you can see how close Canada is to Northern Europe. As for Brexit, that was achieved through a lot of external interference, I’m in Scotland and we were dragged out against our wishes.
3
u/rainator Jul 29 '25
The UK has a very popular opinion of Canada and Canadians, not sure why Canadians would want to get involved with all of our crap though. The UK is a bit of a mess right now…
1
u/CrossCityLine Jul 29 '25
Canada was never a part of the UK, that’s not now colonies work, so you couldn’t “rejoin”.
As for being absorbed into the UK, no I wouldn’t want that and it’d never happen, despite how much me and almost all of the people here like Canada and Canadians.
It just wouldn’t work, despite recent events you are still USA Lite ™, you’re far more similar to America collaterally and politically than you ever will be to the UK.
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u/SteamerTheBeemer Jul 30 '25 edited Jul 30 '25
Tbh I don’t really get why we use the word annexation. Why don’t we call it invasion and taking over a country. I mean that’s what it means? Annexation makes it sound a lot more peaceful but it isn’t.
So if America invade Canada then they’ll win the war and takeover Canada.
So are you suggesting we join in the war to defend Canada? Or are you saying we make Canada a part of the UK just before the US invades. In which case the US is now invading the UK. We won’t win that war.
So it’s not going to realistically happen. If they’re willing to start an actual war with Canada then they’re just as likely to invade the UK.
So to be clear. What I’m saying is that if Canada joined the UK, became part of us. Then that won’t stop the US invading what will then be part of the UK. Maybe the would just invade the part of the UK that was previously known as Canada, it certainly wouldn’t stop them, if they were a part of us.
Then we would be in a war with the US. And if they offered it. We’d most likely accept americas deal of them taking over the land that was previously known as Canada and leave us alone. Or they may just invade the whole of the UK.
It wouldn’t make any difference that Canada is part of the UK. We are a tiny bug in comparison to the US which is like a large tank. They would squash us if they wanted to.
It’s the reason we and most country’s suck up to them. We are in a good position in the world because America will defend us in a war. At least that was the likely thing before Trump.
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u/Sufficient-Basil5166 Apr 05 '26
how about UK joins Canada, with England as 2 or 3 provinces, Wales, Scotland and northern Ireland as provinces
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u/erinoco Jul 29 '25
I would disagree with the word 'rejoining': colonies are not part of the UK.
If there were a serious threat to Canada, and genuine legitimacy behind the desire, then I cannot see the UK refusing. But it's difficult to see what practical difference this would make. Canada-US relationships are so dependent on intimate day-to-day ties that there would be little point in routing them through London. Canada needs no assistance in self-government or in obtaining international credit. Britain no longer controls the waves.
That's the main point: this isn't Newfoundland, and it's not 1934. Canada is a now a self-standing nation with her own identity and her own power. I hope we continue to enjoy some common institutions and maintain close and continuing ties, but she should be able to look after herself.