Disagreements between the U.S. Government and the Canadian Government go back hundreds of years, rooted in land disputes and fishing rights. The newest flashpoint has been Machias Seal Island. This tiny landmass 200 yards off the coast of Maine has been a source of dispute since the late 1700s. The long-running row has erupted in recent years, causing the ire of politicians and political experts.
That story began with the legendary “pig war” of 1859. The fight began when a British pig strolled onto an American backyard close to the Canadian border, simply south of Vancouver. The tragic turn of events spiraled into a full-blown diplomatic incident, exposing the tenuous bond that is US-Canada relations. This history provides important context for understanding today’s cross-border tensions over Machias Seal Island.
The natural monument is located on the island itself, a tiny 277 square miles of contested waters that both countries claim access to for fishing. An international court ruling in 1984 granted both the US and Canada the right to fish in this contentious area. Accusations of overfishing and submarine incursions on her waters have continued over the decades.
Machias Seal Island is frequently referred to as that little speck on maps of North America. Its rural character is marked by clusters of homes, no stoplights or stop signs, one general store and a lobster wholesaler. As a result of its small size, it has surprisingly become emblematic of larger geopolitical rifts between the two nations. The U.S. still asserts sovereignty over the island. In doing so, they cavalierly disregard historical evidence, like the subsequent US occupation by US Marines during World War I.
Canada claims that American fishermen are allowed to catch more than they should and are fishing illegally in Canadian waters. The Grey Zone gets particularly busy during lobster season. Today, boats and buoys marking lobster traps litter the region, igniting culture wars as lobster-generated wealth reignites historical disputes over fishing rights.
The US and Canada have been dealing with these kinds of disputes for years and decades. Each side blames the other for overfishing and violating territorial waters. Nonetheless, as these debates rage on, they expose a much deeper rot in the bilateral relationship between these two countries.
Political leaders—the very top political leaders at that—have been making statements indicating their distress about the escalation of these disputes. When he was president, Donald Trump liked to joke that Canada was the 51st state. This seemingly innocuous comment triggered disbelief and alarm among Canadian officials. His administration’s refusal to honour treaties that allow for environmental regulation in the Great Lakes, in addition, made things very difficult.
“You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north… they have essentially a very large faucet.” – Donald Trump
Experts warn that if history is any guide, there will be no clear strategy directing Trump’s approach. Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England, stated, “He gets ideas, but does not follow a coherent pattern.” This sobering thought illustrates the arbitrariness that has marked US foreign policy during the Trump presidency.
As tensions continue to intensify, Canada has taken a strong stance by publicly stating its willingness to protect its own interests. Mr. Heath-Rawlings emphasized, “We’re not looking for a fight, but Canada’s ready for one.” Since independence, the two countries have shared an amicable relationship. It may be true that Canada has been relatively tolerant of US encroachments.
John Bolton, former national security adviser to President Trump, said he was worried about changing tides in US-Canada relations. He remarked, “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.” This is an attitude that certainly mirrors a dawning awareness of how much less assured than ever first-tier relationships might now be.
These advancements mark the realization that Machias Seal Island is about much more than just a fighting ground for fishing rights. More than just a giant development project, it is a symbol of deeper geopolitical struggles. As both nations try to stake their claims and pursue their interests in this important region, deeper chasms still lie under the surface.
“I reject any attempts to weaken Canada, to wear us down, to break us so that America can own us.” – John Bolton
These recent skirmishes represent a larger trend in US-Canada relations, as they have grown increasingly rancorous over the past decade. As both countries navigate the pitfalls of their own national interests, they are still caught in a larger web of global political forces. Prof. Williams observed that Trump’s negotiating style often leads to unexpected outcomes: “The further you push people to the wall, the more you may find that they have cards that you didn’t know they had – and they might be willing to play them.”
That each year these contested waters around Machias Seal Island are a source of dispute speaks volumes about the future of US-Canada relations. Will the negotiations result in a balm for the wounds shown above, or will animosities cross the Rubicon? The answers remain uncertain.
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