I'm not inclined to debate, but Canada is our "closest" ally based on geography alone. In military strength, they rank 57th worldwide and 35th as a naval power. They held their ties with England during our revolution, they offered sanctuary and support to Confederate operatives during the war between the states, they sheltered our Vietnam era draft dodgers and will not extradite murderers to the U.S. who might face the death penalty. They share very little with us other than a continent and a language, and a sizable portion of their population does not even share language.