O Canada: The Courage of a Friend Betrayed

I write this from Canada, our neighbor to the north. Over the past six years, I have spent a great deal of time here, both for work and to visit my son, who attends university in Montréal. In that time, I have come to know and respect Canada, not just as a country but as a people, a culture, and a society. Their spirit, diversity, and kindness exceed their well-earned reputation as nice people.

As a Portuguese citizen, I have some small insight into what it means to be a smaller nation overshadowed by a powerful neighbor. Portugal, with its long history and clear identity, has long lived next to what is today called Spain—a dynamic that is different from Canada’s relationship with the United States, but one that echoes certain familiar themes.

At the core of these relationships is trust—the understanding that while a smaller nation in population may not match the economic or military power of its neighbor, it can still stand as an equal in dignity and sovereignty. And that is precisely what makes betrayal so damaging. And why it will be hard to earn back trust.

The cost of that lost trust is massive. Canadians are not buying U.S. goods, boycotting U.S. brands, and canceling U.S. travel. That will cost the U.S. economy billions, and tens of thousands of jobs. And, yes, if this mess is resolved - the need to avoid American goods and travel will subside. But the memory of the threats to sovereignty and economic punishment for being a friend will not - once lost, trust is very hard to regain. And the cost of these weeks of rhetoric will be felt for years. As we say in Portugal, once your house is robbed, you lock your door

In recent years, Canada has found itself increasingly at odds with the U.S., not through any fault of its own, but because of poor policy decisions and extreme political shifts in Washington. Long-standing economic ties have been broken, trade agreements have been undermined, and Canada’s patience has been tested. The ease of cross-border travel, business, and cooperation that once seemed effortless and natural has, at times, felt strained and uncertain.

The deep connections between Canada and the U.S. should never be taken for granted. Economically and strategically, the two nations have been close allies and partners, their fates intertwined in ways that benefit both. But when one partner repeatedly disrespects the needs and concerns of the other, trust erodes, and resentment grows.

In Canada today, that erosion is visible. Walk through a grocery store, and you’ll see empty shelves where U.S. goods once stood. Look around, and you’ll notice more Canadian flags than before—symbols of national pride, but also of quiet defiance. There is a growing sentiment that Canada must look elsewhere for reliable partners, that the relationship with the U.S. is no longer as stable or predictable as it once was. And I see that here in Québec as well, a nation within a nation.

For Americans who think this shift doesn’t matter, think again. When your closest friend no longer feels valued, they will find new friendships. When your neighbor no longer trusts your word, they will forge new alliances. And when that happens, the damage is lasting. Trust takes a long time to build, but can be washed away in no time at all.

If Canadians sing their anthem with boisterous pride, it is because they value their communities, their independence, and their identity. And now, it seems, they mostly all agree on one thing: being threatened with U.S. statehood is a slap in the face from a neighbor that never took the time to truly understand them. Canada is not the U.S.—and it does not want to be.

If anything, this moment in time reveals the power of unity, of embracing diversity, and of the many unique people who make up this nation. It reminds me of the spirit of the Portuguese, and of our great knight and national hero, D. Nuno Álvares Pereira, who, on the eve of the Battle of Atoleiros, is credited with telling his men:

"If we fight, we may lose; but if we surrender, then all is already lost."

That spirit—of standing firm in the face of overwhelming odds—is alive and well in Canada today. The question is whether Americans will recognize what they are losing before it’s too late.