Samuel Paparo said that questions about the U.S. invading Canada were “utterly preposterous” and “needlessly emotional.”
A top U.S. admiral says questions about whether he would follow orders to attack Canada are “needlessly emotional” but nonetheless he would follow direction from his commander-in-chief President Donald Trump.
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Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Pacific Command, was asked the question Wednesday, Sept. 2 at a major military conference being held in Victoria, B.C. in the midst of deteriorating relations between the two nations.
Trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have collapsed, prompting Trump to unleash a series of verbal attacks on Canada, including reviving a threat to annex the country. The White House also posted an image on social media on Aug. 26 showing a bald eagle pinning a Canada goose, a message that suggested American dominance over Canada.
In the last several days U.S. government officials have publicly mocked the Canadian Armed Forces. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy claimed Canada doesn’t have a military. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made fun of Canadian army cadets on social media. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted his country is “not at war” with Canada, then proceeded to mock the threat Canada could pose to his country with “submarines from the Edmonton mall.”
At the Sept. 2 news conference, Paparo was asked under what circumstances would he obey an order to launch military action against Canada. The admiral said he found that scenario to be “utterly preposterous” and a “needlessly emotional question.” “Canada is a close ally,” he stated.
But he added, “I follow the orders of the president.”
Earlier in the news conference, Paparo said militaries are “designed to remain apolitical.”
Throughout the conference U.S. and Canadian military officers have been pushing the theme of close co-operation between the two nations. Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Jennie Carignan, who was with Paparo at the news conference, praised the relations between the two militaries.
But Trump has talked openly about economically crippling Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Americans are demanding concessions that would wipe out some Canadian firms and undercut Canadian sovereign.
The U.S. insults have prompted online anger from Canadian veterans. On some social media websites, serving Canadian Forces members have stated their U.S. counterparts are embarrassed by their government’s actions and have privately voiced their support for Canada.
But the questions for Paparo at the conference drove home the reality of the situation. While American military officers might personally see Canada as a close ally, they are legally required to follow the orders of their commander-in-chief as long as they are lawful.
