Australia and Canada share similar values, political leaders keep telling us. But what exactly are those values, and do they still matter when the United States itself has become unpredictable?
An ABC analysis examines what Canberra and Ottawa actually have in common beyond platitudes, as both middle powers navigate relationships with an increasingly unreliable superpower ally.
Mate, we love talking about "shared values" in the Five Eyes world. Democracy, rule of law, human rights—all the good stuff. But when Washington is run by someone who views allies as protection rackets, those shared values start looking more aspirational than actual.
Both Australia and Canada are wrestling with the same fundamental question: how do you balance alliance commitments with sovereign interests when your main ally can't be trusted to act rationally? It's the middle power dilemma writ large.
The traditional answer has been to emphasize shared democratic values, common strategic interests, and historical bonds forged through military alliance. Australia and Canada both fought in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq alongside the US. Both rely on American military technology and intelligence sharing.
But the Trump era has exposed cracks in that foundation. When Washington threatens tariffs on allies, abandons climate commitments, and conducts foreign policy via social media, what exactly are the that bind us?
