Speak Softly, and Carry a Big Stick

Just days before the assassination of President McKinley, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt stood before an eager crowd at the Minnesota State Fair. It was here that Roosevelt shared a vision of American foreign policy that would shape his country’s approach to international relations for more than a century. 

“Right here let me make as vigorous a plea as I know how in favour of saying nothing that we do not mean, and of acting without hesitation up to whatever we say. A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick – you will go far.” If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble, and neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power. In private life there are few beings more obnoxious than the man who is always loudly boasting, and if the boaster is not prepared to back up his words, his position becomes absolutely contemptible. So it is with the nation. It is both foolish and undignified to indulge in undue self-glorification, and, above all, in loose-tongued denunciation of other peoples.”

Put another way, words must be backed up by the ability to act. And Roosevelt acted on those words. He emphasized the importance of diplomatic negotiation backed by the credible threat of military strength. When he started his Presidency, the US Navy was relatively small and was not rated as one of the world’s great naval powers. After his 8 years in power were up, the US Navy was the second largest in the world after the British Royal Navy. When he left office, the United States was a global power, with rising influence on the world stage.  

While Canada has no ambition to be the world’s next superpower, we would do well to heed the advice of President Roosevelt. The world has changed significantly over the past ten years. Our relationship with NATO and more importantly the United States has served us well since the end of World War 2. However, it is increasingly obvious that it would not be prudent to take those relationships for granted. The presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, and his supporters in Congress have made it clear that they are more interested in pursuing an isolationist foreign policy than to continue the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt. Canada needs to prepare for this. 

Canada prides itself on championing global peace and stability, yet recent events suggest a gap between ideals and reality. Our commitment to these values remain, but the effectiveness of our influence is increasingly under scrutiny. Some may recall former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's confrontation with Vladimir Putin over his first invasion of Ukraine. While it was a commendable gesture, it was instantly ignored and failed to sway Putin's actions. Similarly, the detention of two Canadian citizens by China exposed the limitations of relying solely on diplomatic channels and international support. While it was ultimately effective, it took two years and was finally resolved when our close friend, the United States of America stepped in. These instances underscore a prevalent issue within Canada's approach to foreign policy: a mismatch between rhetoric and action. Both major political parties may differ in their strategies and world view—military assertiveness versus diplomatic engagement—yet both struggle to translate Canada's words into tangible outcomes.

Our adversaries are authoritarian regimes that subscribe to the belief that “might is right”. We cannot expect them to be deterred if we do not possess strength of our own. If we want these countries to take our words seriously, we would be well advised to back them up with a “big stick”. 

So how big is our stick? 

It depends on how you measure it. On the one hand, we are well below the 2% of GDP commitment we have made to NATO. On the other hand, it is also true that we are sixth overall within the alliance in terms of total dollars spent each year. However, I would argue that neither of these figures paint an accurate picture of the current state of the Canadian Military. It would be more illustrative to discuss our overall readiness in the event of a war. 

In the very unlikely event that war was declared on Canada or NATO tomorrow, and we were required to deploy overseas immediately, what would Canada be able to bring to the fight? Of our twelve frigates, hopefully we could send one frigate on each coast. Of our four submarines, hopefully we could send one. While new fighter jets are on the way, they aren’t here yet. Hopefully we could send six of our current fighter jets. When it comes to our Army, on paper, we have nine higher readiness battalions. However, given the shortage in recruitment, equipment, and munitions, my suspicion is that we would have difficulty sending all nine. For context, two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine with 100 battalions. Just yesterday, CBC Reporter Murray Brewster, wrote a piece about the current state of the Canadian Armed Forces. He has found that roughly half of our equipment is currently unserviceable or unavailable for deployment should NATO ask us to respond.

Yes, it is true, we don’t need an Army as large as Russia’s, or a Navy as large as China’s. We are a peace loving country with no ambitions of invading or bullying a neighbour or smaller country. However, it has often been said, that “He who wants peace, must prepare for war.” Today we have a land war in Europe, a land war in the middle east, and the prospects of an invasion of Taiwan by China. It would be prudent to start preparing for war. 

In the current unstable world that we live in, the importance of deterrence cannot be understated, especially for a country like Canada. We have given our word to our allies abroad that we would support them in the event of a war. At home we are tasked with defending the continent which includes extensive territory in the Arctic. This responsibility highlights the need for Canada to not only serve as a strong voice against aggressors and authoritarian regimes such as Russia but also to maintain a robust capacity for defence.

The principle of speaking softly while carrying a big stick, as Roosevelt advocated for America, is more relevant than ever. Though it is disheartening that the current leadership of the Republican Party have strayed from these foundational ideals, nations like Canada need to step up. By strengthening our defence capabilities, particularly in the Arctic, we can ensure that our voice is heard on the global stage.

Canadian Liberals and Conservatives have promised to increase defence spending for Canada. The Prime Minister committed to meeting our 2% of GDP target last year at the summit in Vilnius. The Conservative Leader has also committed to achieve the 2% of GDP target. The Canadian defence community has been waiting for a new Defence Policy Update from DND for a while now. Hopefully when that new document is released, it will outline how this target will be met. However, for now at least, these are merely promises. Canadians should hold their politicians to these promises. It is an issue that goes beyond partisanship. 

During Roosevelt’s Presidency, Canada was similarly guided by a progressive leader. Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier was fond of saying that the 20th century would belong to Canada. He said that “Canada shall be the star towards which all men who love progress and freedom shall come.” We are now in the 21st century and our country still holds that promise and potential. We need to continue to build a Canada that stands for progress and freedom but also a nation ready and able to defend those values with soft words and a big stick.