Latest news with #CentreforDefenceandSecurityStudies
CBC
26-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
U of M defence, security experts urge Canadians to watch what Trump does, not what he says
As Donald Trump continues to muse about making Canada the "51st state" and prepares to impose tariffs on Canadian goods, the U.S. president is moving Washington closer to Moscow. If you find this topsy-turvy state of affairs bewildering, you're not alone. Trump's desire to hold talks with Vladimir Putin about ending the Russia-Ukraine war — and the U.S. vote on Monday against a United Nations resolution to blame Russia for the invasion — has shocked the director of the University of Manitoba's Centre for Defence and Security Studies. "The Trump administration has decided that it can trust and align itself with adversaries more so than allies — and that's concerning for all allies," Andrea Charron said Tuesday in an interview. Trump's move to thaw U.S. relations with Russia have left NATO allies in Europe considering how they can reduce their reliance on the United States for defence. Canada, however, has fewer options, given our geography and the deeply integrated nature of North American defence. In this regard, Charron has some advice for Canadians: Don't assume Trump's overtures to Putin will mean the worst for the future of NATO or Canada's close, 85-year-old military alliance with the United States. At least not yet. "One of the things we've learned from the first Trump administration is he makes a lot of pronouncements, but then we have to sort of wait and see how he follows through," Charron said. "This might be the start of a bromance between Trump and Putin, but the proof is going to be in the pudding about, 'OK, well, what is it then that Russia can supply to the U.S.?'" In a theoretical one-for-one swap, Russia doesn't have much to offer the United States as a strategic or economic replacement for Canada, its closest military and trading partner. James Fergusson, a senior scholar at the U of M's Centre for Defence and Security Studies, said Trump's overtures to Moscow harken back to the periods during the Cold War, when the U.S. and Soviet Union held talks to ensure they could peacefully co-exist. Like Charron, Fergusson said Canada-U.S. defence is too integrated to be disentangled, even when there are tensions between Ottawa and Washington. "I don't think we're at this stage of a complete realignment. Certainly the emotional rhetoric that we've seen coming out of this government and elsewhere implies this is where we're headed down the road," Fergusson said Tuesday in an interview. Instead, he suggested this moment in history provides Canada with the impetus to follow through on longstanding commitments to increase defence spending, particularly when it comes to surveillance of the vast Canadian Arctic. "This is a great irony: Trump is going to be good for us. We may finally have to get our house in order," Fergusson said. Fergusson urged Canadians to pay more attention to what Donald Trump does, compared to what the mercurial president says he will do. "Don't be emotional, be practical and be objective as we can," he suggested, describing the rising nationalism in Canada as understandable but not useful when it comes dealing with Trump. "The rhetoric won't help the relationship. We know how he responds to these things," he said. "We have got to try to be more mature than him." While Canada's close military alliance with the United States dates back to the Second World War, the two nations have had disagreements about defence over the decades. During the Cuban missile crisis, Canada initially refused to support the U.S. naval blockade of Cuba or allow the U.S. to place nuclear-armed Bombers on Canadian soil. Canada also declined to support the Vietnam War or the U.S. invasion of Iraq during the Second Gulf War. In this context, Canada's full-throated support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and the potential U.S. support for a ceasefire that could allow Russia to maintain its Ukrainian holdings is only the latest difference of opinion, as disorienting as it may be. It would be rash to assume this disagreement means the United States can no longer belong to NATO, Charron said. "I think the allies are prepared to do a lot of bending to keep the U.S. as a member," she said, adding there have been other problematic members of the 32-member NATO alliance, most notably Hungary and Turkey. "It's not perfect. There are certain members that do more than others. There are certain members who are more helpful than others. But together, that alliance is stronger than any one adversary out there."
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Explainer-What is the Cook Islands deal with China and what has worried NZ?
By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Growing ties between Cook Islands and China, including a new comprehensive partnership agreement action plan detailed this week, have raised concerns in New Zealand, which has a close constitutional relationship with its tiny Pacific neighbour. WHAT ARE THE COOK ISLANDS? The Cook Islands are a group of 15 small islands and atolls halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, scattered across 2 million square km of resource-rich Pacific Ocean. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Since 1965, the Cook Islands has been a country in free association with New Zealand. Its citizens have New Zealand passports and all the perks of that – access to New Zealand's healthcare and education system and the ability to work there. It is permitted an independent foreign policy, but the two countries are required to consult on security, defence and foreign policy issues. Its population of 15,040 is dwarfed by more than 90,000 who identify as Cook Island Maori and who live in New Zealand. Now designated a high-income country so no longer eligible for international Official Development Assistance, the small economy relies on tourism - mostly from New Zealand - which collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic. China and the Cook Islands established diplomatic relations in 1997 and in 2018 upgraded it to a comprehensive regional strategic partnership with other Pacific island states. WHAT IS THE AGREEMENT? The agreement signed by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlines a number of areas the two countries will improve cooperation including education, the economy, infrastructure, fisheries, disaster management and seabed mining. Anna Powles, associate professor at Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, highlighted enhanced cooperation in areas of hydrography and geospatial research, which has direct military applications. It also aims for improved cultural ties, but no debt or explicit security ties are included in the deal. A number of memorandums of understanding were also signed during the visit and these have not been released publicly. WHAT HAS WORRIED NEW ZEALAND? New Zealand has complained about a lack of transparency around the agreements signed by Brown with a China that has become significantly more assertive in the Pacific in recent years. Australia and the United States have pushed back against China's increased Pacific presence, boosting funding in the region and signing onto new strategic partnerships. While New Zealand has also boosted aid, it cannot compete financially with China. It has touted its strong diplomatic and cultural ties in the region as a crucial advantage, an argument potentially undermined by the unilateral actions of the Cook Islands. New Zealand is concerned the Cook Islands government's push for more autonomy, including an effort to issue its own passports, means it is getting all the benefits of independence while still being part of New Zealand. The Cook Islands has also wanted to join the United Nations, which New Zealand won't allow. Under the new agreement, China says it will support the Cook Islands' aspirations to expand its membership of international organisations. "This is where China is driving a wedge between the Cook Islands and New Zealand and exploiting Prime Minister Mark Brown's desire or aspiration for increased independence from New Zealand," Powles said. WHAT DOES CHINA WANT? The Cook Islands has huge untapped seabed mineral resources and is at the forefront of exploring this as yet unproven industry. The country's Seabed Minerals Authority estimates there are 6.7 billion tonnes of mineral-rich nodules on its sea floor, which could yield 20 million metric tons of cobalt along with significant amounts of nickel, copper, manganese, iron and rare earth elements needed for tech products and the clean energy transition. Chinese companies, which dominate the global supply of many such materials, has not been granted one of three exploration licences in Cook Islands waters, but the agreement envisages "further cooperation within the seabed minerals sector". Additionally, the Cook Islands is a member of international organisations including the Pacific Islands Forum, which China has built ties in recent years, and the agreement pledges to support each other in multilateral forums. WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR COOK ISLANDERS? Closer ties to China provide opportunities for a new stream of tourists and trade as well as technical and/or financial support to develop the seabed mining sector. However, if the relationship with New Zealand were to worsen further, there is potential that a referendum over the future of the Cook Islands constitution would be needed. Protests were held in the capital Avarua on Monday in support of remaining in free association with New Zealand and opposition party members have filed a motion of no confidence against Brown, which will be voted after February 25. 'I've always viewed New Zealand as a good partner and neighbour,' said Tina Browne, the leader of the opposition. 'Why are we risking damaging that relationship?'
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Explainer: What is the Cook Islands deal with China and what has worried NZ?
WELLINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Growing ties between Cook Islands and China, including a new comprehensive partnership agreement action plan detailed this week, have raised concerns in New Zealand, which has a close constitutional relationship with its tiny Pacific neighbour. WHAT ARE THE COOK ISLANDS? The Cook Islands are a group of 15 small islands and atolls halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, scattered across 2 million square km of resource-rich Pacific Ocean. Since 1965, the Cook Islands has been a country in free association with New Zealand. Its citizens have New Zealand passports and all the perks of that – access to New Zealand's healthcare and education system and the ability to work there. It is permitted an independent foreign policy, but the two countries are required to consult on security, defence and foreign policy issues. Its population of 15,040 is dwarfed by more than 90,000 who identify as Cook Island Maori and who live in New Zealand. Now designated a high-income country so no longer eligible for international Official Development Assistance, the small economy relies on tourism - mostly from New Zealand - which collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic. China and the Cook Islands established diplomatic relations in 1997 and in 2018 upgraded it to a comprehensive regional strategic partnership with other Pacific island states. WHAT IS THE AGREEMENT? The agreement signed by Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlines a number of areas the two countries will improve cooperation including education, the economy, infrastructure, fisheries, disaster management and seabed mining. Anna Powles, associate professor at Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, highlighted enhanced cooperation in areas of hydrography and geospatial research, which has direct military applications. It also aims for improved cultural ties, but no debt or explicit security ties are included in the deal. A number of memorandums of understanding were also signed during the visit and these have not been released publicly. WHAT HAS WORRIED NEW ZEALAND? New Zealand has complained about a lack of transparency around the agreements signed by Brown with a China that has become significantly more assertive in the Pacific in recent years. Australia and the United States have pushed back against China's increased Pacific presence, boosting funding in the region and signing onto new strategic partnerships. While New Zealand has also boosted aid, it cannot compete financially with China. It has touted its strong diplomatic and cultural ties in the region as a crucial advantage, an argument potentially undermined by the unilateral actions of the Cook Islands. New Zealand is concerned the Cook Islands government's push for more autonomy, including an effort to issue its own passports, means it is getting all the benefits of independence while still being part of New Zealand. The Cook Islands has also wanted to join the United Nations, which New Zealand won't allow. Under the new agreement, China says it will support the Cook Islands' aspirations to expand its membership of international organisations. "This is where China is driving a wedge between the Cook Islands and New Zealand and exploiting Prime Minister Mark Brown's desire or aspiration for increased independence from New Zealand," Powles said. WHAT DOES CHINA WANT? The Cook Islands has huge untapped seabed mineral resources and is at the forefront of exploring this as yet unproven industry. The country's Seabed Minerals Authority estimates there are 6.7 billion tonnes of mineral-rich nodules on its sea floor, which could yield 20 million metric tons of cobalt along with significant amounts of nickel, copper, manganese, iron and rare earth elements needed for tech products and the clean energy transition. Chinese companies, which dominate the global supply of many such materials, has not been granted one of three exploration licences in Cook Islands waters, but the agreement envisages "further cooperation within the seabed minerals sector". Additionally, the Cook Islands is a member of international organisations including the Pacific Islands Forum, which China has built ties in recent years, and the agreement pledges to support each other in multilateral forums. WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR COOK ISLANDERS? Closer ties to China provide opportunities for a new stream of tourists and trade as well as technical and/or financial support to develop the seabed mining sector. However, if the relationship with New Zealand were to worsen further, there is potential that a referendum over the future of the Cook Islands constitution would be needed. Protests were held in the capital Avarua on Monday in support of remaining in free association with New Zealand and opposition party members have filed a motion of no confidence against Brown, which will be voted after February 25. 'I've always viewed New Zealand as a good partner and neighbour,' said Tina Browne, the leader of the opposition. 'Why are we risking damaging that relationship?'
