O'Leary calls for military union with U.S. to protect North from Russia, China

Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary says Canada should combine its military with the U.S. in order to protect the Arctic from China and Russia.

O'Leary plans to negotiate a deal that could one day lead to a Canada-U.S. merger similar to countries under the European Union — common passports, currency and open trade.

"We have no government in Ottawa," said O'Leary in a recent Fox News broadcast of Canada's vulnerability.

O'Leary said his upcoming conversation with President-elect Donald Trump regarding a Canada-U.S. merger is, "just two guys talking ideas."

He said the combination of Canada's vast natural resources and American might could create an economic powerhouse.

"I'm not a fan of the Chinese government," said O'Leary in the broadcast.

"Everybody knows that, and I worry about that, and everybody should. And the Russians too. We don't need them messing around up north."

"We could make that very, very clear to them — and what country on Earth would mess with a combined (Canada-U.S.) economic entity?" said O'Leary.

"You don't have to give up your citizenship. You don't have to give up your sovereignty, either way, if you're American or Canadian under this idea."

Both Russia and China are increasing military capabilities and presence in the Arctic. Russia has reactivated and modernized Soviet-era bases, deployed new weapon systems, and conducts frequent military exercises, including some in cooperation with China.

This includes testing new hypersonic missiles and establishing a strong military presence in Arctic regions, which inherently poses a strategic challenge to Canada's Arctic territories.

"The Liberals have failed to defend Canada's Arctic for nine years, and now they think the Russians and Chinese are going to be afraid to send submarines and spy balloons because we’ve sent another bureaucrat," said Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in December.

A Leger poll from December 2024 found 13% of Canadians would like Canada to become the fifty-first U.S. state. The majority — 82% — opposed this idea.

Support was higher among men, at 19%, compared with only 7% of women. Among political party supporters, Conservative Party supporters showed the highest support at 21%, while only 6% of NDP supporters favoured the idea.

"I bet you more than 70% of the Canadians would want to do it," said O'Leary.

"They just don't want to give up their birthright, nor does an American."