June 21–22, 2025, will be remembered as the 48 hours when the Middle East lurched from crisis to catastrophe—and Canada was forced to confront what it truly stands for. Late Saturday night, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via a social media post that American forces had bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. Minutes later, major networks confirmed the strikes, and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow delivered it without euphemism: “We are now at war with Iran.”
From Surrey to St. John’s, the shock was immediate. Comment threads erupted with disbelief, dread, and déjà vu. A generation that witnessed the 2003 invasion of Iraq now saw the sequel unfold in real time: bombs first, justification later, the Constitution nowhere in sight. “Punching someone in the face and then demanding peace talks,” one Canadian wrote, distilling the absurdity of a president who dropped precision-guided munitions and, in the next breath, urged Tehran to negotiate.
By dawn Sunday, Ottawa had responded. Prime Minister Mark Carney called Iran’s nuclear ambitions “a grave threat,” but urged “all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand advised Canadians in the region to register with Global Affairs, and Defence Minister David McGuinty prepared to depart with the prime minister for urgent meetings with EU and NATO allies. The response was measured, appropriate—and nowhere near enough.
This isn’t just another flashpoint thousands of kilometres away—it’s a stress test for the multilateral order Canada depends on and for our willingness to lead when our closest ally trades process for impulse.
Unilateral Shock, Democratic Alarm
The constitutional breach in Washington was staggering. No congressional vote. No consultation under the War Powers Resolution. It’s just a 280-character declaration of force. Even Republican hawks voiced concern about executive overreach; Democrats revived talks of impeachment. For Canadians—who still view parliamentary debate as a prerequisite for military action—watching our neighbour bypass its checks and balances was nearly as jarring as the strike itself. When a democracy disables its safeguards, the shockwaves extend far beyond its borders.
A Reprise No One Ordered
The historical echoes are deafening. The U.S. exited the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, only to now cite the very threats contained in the agreement. Intelligence suggests Iran is not actively building a bomb. Yet here we are again: another preemptive strike, defended with vague allusions to existential danger. Canadians remember the “weapons of mass destruction” era well. We lost 159 soldiers in Afghanistan, spent billions, and watched the region unravel. We are not eager to replay that script.
The Cost of Dependency
Canada’s vulnerability is twofold. First, the economic fallout: oil prices have surged and retreated to below a 5-month high, markets are skittish, and already-stretched supply chains are tightening. Second, the strategic bind: our trade routes, defence apparatus, and even energy systems are entwined with the United States. When Washington acts unilaterally, Ottawa inherits the consequences—and the moral hazard.
This is why Carney’s statement, welcome though it was, must be only the starting point. If we want a genuinely independent foreign policy, we have work to do—and fast.
Five Things Canada Must Do Now
Lead a coalition for de-escalation. The usual G7 statement won’t cut it. Canada should spearhead a contact group of middle-power democracies with Japan, Germany, Australia, and South Korea and press for a ceasefire and a return to nuclear talks.
Defend the rule of law. Ottawa should publicly oppose any further unilateral strikes without domestic legislative authority or sanctions from the United Nations. Quiet diplomacy matters, but above all, clarity matters. The global rules we rely on won’t survive selective enforcement.
Protect Canadians from blowback. From terrorism threats to energy shocks, the federal government must release a contingency plan imminently—covering security, energy reserves, and economic stabilization. Canadians deserve transparency before panic takes root.
Accelerate trade diversification. Every global crisis reminds us of the danger of relying on a single partner. Fast-track global trade talks, deepen our critical-minerals pact with Europe, and dismantle the remaining interprovincial trade barriers stifling domestic resilience.
Rebuild diplomatic muscle. For the past two decades, our foreign service has seen a steady decline in resources and personnel. Restoring regional expertise, language training, and rapid-response capacity isn’t a luxury—it’s insurance in a world where disruption is the new normal.
Beyond the Sidelines
Canada likes to see itself as the grown-up in the room—peacekeeper, honest broker, principled middle power. That identity only holds if we show up when the world teeters on the edge. Calling out Iran’s nuclear aspirations is compatible with condemning reckless escalation. Defending allies doesn’t require defending recklessness.
The temptation is to hope this fizzles out—that Tehran exercises restraint, that markets settle. But hope isn’t a strategy. Nor is silence. The sobering truth is this: when superpowers govern by impulse, the safest neighbours are the ones who have prepared for the fallout.
The jets have already flown. The deterrence has failed. What remains is the fragile space for diplomacy—shrinking, but still alive. Canada can help keep that space open. Or we can wait to see whose missiles fill the void.
Because while the bombs struck Iranian soil, the aftershocks—like always—are coming for us, too.