1940 Ogdensburg Agreement On Hemispheric Defense

Date: 1940

The Ogdensburg Agreement was a joint statement issued by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King on August 17, 1940, following a conference held in Ogdensburg, New York. The agreement established a framework for joint defense cooperation between the United States and Canada in the event of a war in the Western Hemisphere.



The Ogdensburg Agreement called for the creation of a Permanent Joint Board on Defense, composed of military and civilian officials from both countries, which would be responsible for coordinating defense plans and policies. The agreement also emphasized the importance of close cooperation between the United States and Canada in the event of a conflict in the Western Hemisphere, and committed both countries to the defense of the continent.

The Ogdensburg Agreement was significant for several reasons. First, it marked a significant step forward in the development of U.S.-Canadian relations, particularly with respect to defense cooperation. Second, it helped to establish a framework for joint defense planning and coordination in the Western Hemisphere, which would prove important in the coming years as the United States entered World War II. Finally, the agreement reflected the growing sense of cooperation and unity among the Allied powers in the face of the growing threat of war in Europe and Asia.

In conclusion, the Ogdensburg Agreement was a joint statement issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in August 1940, which established a framework for joint defense cooperation between the United States and Canada in the event of a war in the Western Hemisphere. The agreement was significant for its impact on U.S.-Canadian relations, its establishment of a framework for joint defense planning, and its reflection of the growing sense of Allied cooperation in the face of the threat of war.