Does military interoperability with the United States affect Canadian sovereignty? The literature on this subject is highly polarized, arguing either that such interoperability significantly reduces Canadian sovereignty or that it is necessary to maintain it. Successive Canadian governments have supported the military view that high levels of interoperability with the United States are needed for operations to proceed safely and effectively and that this poses no cost to Canadian sovereignty. The critics of interoperability strongly disagree and argue that increased interoperability with the United States will diminish Canada’s foreign policy independence, its ability to refuse US military adventures and its domestic sovereignty. Recent books and articles on this subject are marked by shifting definitions and unclear methodologies. These shortcomings have led to a reliance on conjecture, the critics predicting damaging future implications as a result of Canada’s interoperability policies, and supporters promising outright gains.

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