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I'll go back to my first comment above: What is an "associate member"? We don't know because it's a concept that does not exist but the very name suggests somet
by mytailorisrich 16d ago
I'll go back to my first comment above: What is an "associate member"? We don't know because it's a concept that does not exist but the very name suggests something stronger and tighter than anything that exists with non-members that have very close ties (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland).
Hence I think it is safe to say that this is a lot of bluster, or ar least hyperbole, considering what Canada and the EU might really want and the long and complicated treaty process to define and create an "associate member" status.
- dghlsakjg 16d agoBluster has a connotation of empty threats and loudness for the sake fo loudness. Canada has been making real moves, and doing it quietly. In the past year non-US exports have grown by a record 11%. New trade and defense deals have been signed with more than 20 countries. Whatever is going on in Ottawa, bluster is not the word for it.
- mytailorisrich 16d agoNot Canada, it is Von Der Leyen who took upon herself to use this "associate member" term and even EU countries are surprised not least because of basically whhat I explained earlier [1]. [1] https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-capitals-mark-carney-ursula-von-der-leyen-associate-membership-canada/ https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-capitals-mark-carney-ursu...
- dghlsakjg 16d agoAh. I thought you were saying that Canada's pivots outside the US were anti trump bluster. No idea about the EU side rhetoric, but it may not be bluster considering that Canada has huge potash and oil/gas reserves that could replace Kremlin aligned sources in the EU (and the defense deal that Canada just announced with Ukr.).