Facing threats from Trump administration, Canada must cement more ties

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With the string of on-again, off-again trade tariffs and a variety of threats made against Canadian sovereignty by U.S. President Donald Trump, having a balanced and engaged foreign policy has never been so important.

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Instead of continuing to put all of our diplomatic and trade eggs in one basket, Canada should immediately be opening talks with counterparts worldwide to bolster its network of friendly countries.

Mexico

Canada and Mexico already make up two-thirds of the free trade pact governing this continent, theoretically anyway. If the U.S. is no longer interested in participating in this powerhouse economic zone, it would be a no-brainer for the two remaining partners to hammer out a side deal to provide a stable and free trade environment for businesses based here and abroad.

Europe

More easy wins can potentially be found in Europe.

We are already fully committed to stand up for Ukraine and we should strengthen our solidarity with European allies on this file.

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Greenland, like Canada, has found itself on Trump’s list of potential acquisitions. Canada and Greenland’s colonial power, Denmark, have already survived through a long diplomatic rough patch (look up the Hans Island dispute in your favourite search engine). Further to this, our nations have common interests when it comes to Arctic sovereignty and Inuit affairs.

And, as previously suggested, Canada should find ways to resume trade talks with the U.K.

Asia

Trump’s complaints about military spending aren’t limited to Canada and NATO allies.

“I love Japan … but we have an interesting deal with Japan where we have to protect them but they don’t have other protect us,” Trump said, according to a report published in the Japan Times on Saturday. He went on to lament how Japan was making a fortune off the U.S., economically speaking.

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Japan was quick to point out how off-base Trump’s comments were.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Chosun Daily reported mounting pressure on that country to make a deal on LNG exports from Alaska. The U.S. has also expressed irritation over South Korean tariffs and a trilateral security deal that also includes Japan.

This should all sound very familiar to Canadians. Canada should present itself as a stable, less inflammatory partner than the U.S. to East Asia’s bastions of democracy and free markets.

Africa

China has long been cultivating its economic, political and diplomatic clout across Africa.

The continent is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing nations and fastest-developing economies.

China announced in September it would spend a further $51 billion in African countries over the coming years for infrastructure projects, which are expected to create some one million jobs.

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Most of these funds would be disbursed as loans and investments, the Reuters news agency reported, while smaller amounts would be spent as military aid and other projects.

While Canada might not have that kind of money, it would be foolish for this country to ignore this part of the world. It can and should do more to partner with African nations and open doors to new economic opportunities for all involved.

The federal government has shown signs it’s recognizing this opportunity by recently announcing additional funding for “reducing poverty, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting economic development and empowering youth.”

United Nations Peacekeeping

Canadian Forces members wearing the UN’s blue berets were the face of Canada’s soft power for decades.

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“Were,” because according to the program’s website, there are currently only 59 Canadians deployed as peacekeepers worldwide, scattered across different missions working in leadership and support roles.

As Canada works to grow its military to meet its NATO commitments, we should also take the opportunity to renew this country’s trademark commitment to peacekeeping. Not only would this help provide some measure of stability and security in a world sometimes lacking in both, it would allow us to live up to the image of ourselves we’ve long projected.

If Canada want to reclaim its place on the world stage, it need to rekindle old relationships and forge new ones while simultaneously reducing our reliance on the United States. There is no shortage of opportunities for this country to seize.

rleong@postmedia.com

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