Why are U.S. troops stationed in Canada?

The U.S. military has a significant global presence, with more than 165,000 troops deployed across over 170 countries and territories, including 156 active-duty personnel in Canada. While Canada does not host any American military bases today, U.S. troops serve in various roles, primarily as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a binational defence partnership protecting the continent from potential threats.

NORAD involves close cooperation between Canadian and American forces, with nearly 50 U.S. air force personnel stationed at Canadian bases in North Bay, Ontario, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. “This is an essential part of the mature, North American defence relationship,” says Carleton University political scientist Aaron Ettinger.

Other American military personnel serve as attachés at the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, study at Canadian military colleges, or coordinate operations alongside Canadian troops. Current deployments include 69 U.S. air force members, 36 from the navy, 29 from the army, 15 from the Marine Corps, four from the Coast Guard, and three from Space Force.

Historically, Canada hosted U.S. military installations during World War II and the Cold War, but the presence today is tied to broader defence integration.

Trump’s Comments Stir Concerns
Recently, Donald Trump floated controversial ideas, including using “economic force” to make Canada the 51st U.S. state. He also speculated about seizing Greenland, a Danish territory where 139 American troops and a U.S. Space Force base are located.

Experts dismiss such comments as rhetoric, with political scientist Frédéric Labarre noting, “The U.S.-Canada defence relationship is strong and enduring, regardless of Trump’s ambitions.”

Stephen Saideman, an international affairs chair at Carleton University, echoed this sentiment: “Canadians should be no more worried than Europeans are about the tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed in Germany.”

A Deeply Integrated Defence Partnership
Despite Trump’s remarks, Canada and the U.S. maintain one of the most integrated defence partnerships in the world. Canadians are even embedded in American military commands, with a Canadian rear admiral currently serving as vice-commander of the U.S. navy’s east coast and North Atlantic fleet.

Experts emphasize that these relationships ensure smooth operations in both peace and wartime. “This partnership requires much peacetime interaction so that things can operate well in wartime,” Saideman added.

With over 277,000 U.S. soldiers based in the 13 states bordering Canada, the presence of 156 U.S. troops in Canada represents a fraction of the American military’s global footprint and poses no threat to Canadian sovereignty.