4.2.1 International Engagement

Canada became independent slowly and peacefully. Australia and New Zealand followed a similar road. As Canada gained more control over its own affairs, it also gained the ability to do important work abroad. Then the Cold War started. Several liberated countries in eastern Europe ended up inside a Communist bloc. That bloc was controlled by the Soviet Union, led by the dictator Josef Stalin. Canada had to choose a side, and it stood with the democracies of the West.

Canada joined the democratic alliances. With other Western countries it helped create the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, which is a military alliance. With the United States it set up the North American Aerospace Defence Command, NORAD. Canada also joined international bodies such as the United Nations. Canadian troops served under the UN flag to defend South Korea. That war lasted from 1950 to 1953. The price was high: 500 Canadians were killed and 1,000 were wounded.

Peacekeeping became part of Canada's role in the world. Canadians have served on many UN peacekeeping missions. The places have been very different from one another. Egypt, Cyprus and Haiti are three examples. Canada has also taken part in other international security operations. Two of these were in the former Yugoslavia and in Afghanistan. This kind of service is one of the main ways the country contributes beyond its own borders.