Mark Carney flexes economy-first foreign policy as G7 meets in Kananaskis

Calgary Herald

15 hours ago

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As Mark Carney prepares to host world leaders at the Group of Seven summit in western Canada, he's showing off a foreign policy that's more hardheaded than that of Justin Trudeau.
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Trudeau put climate change and progressive social values front and center, an approach that often led to clashes with other leaders. Carney has emphasized economic ties, hard power and alliances that would allow Canada to reduce its economic and security dependence on the US.
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Carney, who has been prime minister for three months, is using the military budget to send a clear message that his administration is different. Under Trudeau, Canada's defense spending lagged far below the key NATO target of two per cent of gross domestic product — and the government didn't intend to reach it until 2032. Carney has just announced his government plans to hit that level within months by allocating billions of dollars right away for new military hardware and other defense items.
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The prime minister has also made some controversial invitations to the summit, justifying them on the basis that some key economic powers must be at the table. That includes India's Narendra Modi, with whom Trudeau feuded. Modi's government was accused by Trudeau of backing the murder of a Sikh activist in Canada in 2023, leading to a deep rupture in Indian-Canadian relations.
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Modi and Carney will meet at the summit and officials have signaled their governments plan tp have better cooperation among law enforcement for sharing information. The Canadian leader also invited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, though he's decided not to attend.
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Carney's actions show 'a clear desire to diversify Canada's relations and to engage with a wider range of partners than in the past,' said Thomas Juneau, a University of Ottawa professor who specializes in foreign and defence policy. 'I hope it's a less moralistic approach' than Trudeau.
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Hanging above everything at the meeting in Alberta is, of course, Donald Trump.
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Carney, 60, has walked a fine line with the US president. During the Canadian election campaign, Carney accused Trump of betraying Canada and pledged that Canada would 'win' the trade war. Since securing victory, he has taken a more conciliatory tone.