The election of Joe Biden has put the relationship between Canada and the United States on a better footing. David Carment and Richard Memijean write:
Biden has already returned the relationship to normal by making his virtual meeting with Trudeau his first as leader, reflecting his plan to stabilize American foreign policy.
Despite disagreement on a few key issues, Canadians were pleased. Biden and Trudeau have an obvious personal chemistry, reinforced by their centrist ideological outlooks and their recognition that politically they need to tack left. Both want their countries to “build back better” while paying attention to climate change and addressing socioeconomic inequality. Progress will occur on other shared concerns, such as NATO’s future, multilateralism, human rights and democracy promotion.
But there is a downside. As we grow closer to the United States, our options become more limited:
A friendly American administration will not necessarily make it easier for Canada to pursue its interests and enhance its sovereignty. Biden is an American president first and foremost, and is using diplomacy and statecraft to promote his interests and goals. Like Trump and Obama before him, Biden will pressure Canada to help him succeed, such as by spending more on defence and security.
On issues that truly matter to Canadians, he so far has given precious little. There was no word on American assistance on vaccine procurement, exemptions from Biden’s nationalist procurement strategy, or consideration for Canada’s pipeline concerns.
Biden’s “alliance of values” seeks to restore American hegemony. He wants to re-establish American leadership in areas that risk being dominated if not controlled by China. Allies can go along for the ride and help Biden address his political concerns. Otherwise, they face the prospect of heightened tensions, as Europe is now encountering as it tries to work constructively with both China and the U.S.
And to solve our problems with China, we must rely on the United States:
The new framework on Canada-U.S. relations states that the two countries are discussing how “to more closely align our approaches to China.” Ironically, Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s attempt to portray the Liberals as soft on China, such as the recent House motion declaring crimes against the Uyghurs to be genocide, will if anything only push Canada deeper into the American orbit, since Canada on its own lacks the power to stand up to China.
So, in some way, things are better. But, on the other hand, we are over a barrel.
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