What North Atlantic Triangle?

This article questions the notion of the North Atlantic Triangle as developed by John Bartlet Brebner and asks whether it ever really existed in the form that he suggested. It examines Brebner’s motives in advancing the triangular concept and finds them to be rooted in a view of Canadian history that eschewed a nationalist emphasis favouring either the USA or the British Empire. It also suggests that there is a basic flaw in the North Atlantic Triangle idea, in that relations between the three parties have been generally benign and that all three parties accepted the triangle notion, whereas the fundamental direction of US policy towards Canada since 1776 has been to break the link between Britain and Canada. Cooperation between the USA, Canada and Britain was at its height when Brebner wrote his book and chose the title North Atlantic Triangle and, for that reason, the phrase was a period piece. It may have its uses in the fields of diplomacy and international relations but it needs to be interpreted much more broadly than Brebner managed to do if it is to be of value in fully understanding the history of the North Atlantic world.