Polling shows more Canadians rank the United States above China, Russia, and Iran as the primary risk to national security following trade and defense disputes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A majority of Canadians now consider the United States to be the greatest threat to their country’s national security, surpassing China, Russia, and Iran, according to a new survey conducted for Bloomberg by Nanos Research Group.
The poll found that 55 percent of Canadians identified the United States as the top security risk to Canada. By comparison, 15 percent selected China, 14 percent named Russia, and 2 percent chose Iran. The survey of 1,009 adults was conducted from Jan. 31 through Feb. 4 and carries a margin of error of approximately 3.1 percentage points.
The results follow months of public tensions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Donald Trump, including disputes over tariffs, NATO policy, and the president’s effort to assert control over Greenland. During that period, Ottawa also moved to expand economic and diplomatic ties with China.
The Bloomberg polling data also revealed a gender divide. Approximately 64 percent of women identified the United States as Canada’s primary security threat, compared to 45 percent of men.
A separate survey released by Politico found that a majority of Canadians no longer view the United States as a reliable ally. That poll reported that 67 percent believe the United States challenges rather than supports its allies globally, and 69 percent agree that the United States tends to create problems for other countries rather than solve them.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in late January, Carney said the long-standing U.S.-led “rules-based international order” has become a “fiction,” warning of a geopolitical “rupture” in which major powers increasingly act without constraint. Following those remarks, President Trump withdrew Canada’s invitation to his newly created Board of Peace, which is tasked with overseeing the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Carney’s comments came after a diplomatic trip to China, where he announced new strategic partnerships and praised Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“The world has changed much since that last visit, I believe the progress that we have made in the partnership sets us up well for the new world order,” Carney declared during the trip.
After returning, his government unveiled a “new strategic partnership” with China focused on energy, agriculture, and trade. The agreement included allowing nearly 50,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market and setting what officials described as “an ambitious goal to increase exports to China by 50%.”
President Trump responded by warning Carney — whom he referred to as “governor” — that Canada could face a 100 percent tariff if it “makes a deal with China,” according to a post on Truth Social. The president has also periodically suggested Canada could become the 51st state, remarks that have generated political backlash within Canada.
In addition, Carney’s government recently unveiled a defense-industrial strategy aimed at directing more military procurement toward Canadian firms to reduce reliance on U.S. contractors.
Earlier this month, President Trump stated on Truth Social that he would block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Ontario to Michigan, until Ottawa “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
The polling results highlight the extent to which diplomatic disputes, trade tensions, and shifting geopolitical alignments have influenced public opinion in Canada regarding its southern neighbor.
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