Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is facing scrutiny for adopting a "commerce-first" approach to foreign policy that critics say overlooks human rights atrocities in favor of economic gains.
Breaking from Trudeau's Legacy
The current administration has deliberately distanced itself from Justin Trudeau's foreign policy framework, which even Trudeau's own former foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau criticized for prioritizing style over substance. Carney explicitly abandoned Trudeau's "feminist foreign policy" this week, signaling a significant shift in Canada's international approach.
This strategic pivot was evident during Carney's recent international engagements, where trade negotiations took clear precedence over human rights concerns.
Diplomatic Rebuilding with India
The commerce-first approach has yielded tangible results in repairing relations with India, which fractured under Trudeau after Canada publicly alleged Indian government involvement in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Under Carney's leadership, Canada has taken a more discreet diplomatic path similar to President Joe Biden's handling of similar allegations. Four Indian nationals have been arrested in the Nijjar case, and Indian law enforcement now collaborates with Canadian counterparts.
The relationship repair culminated during the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched economic partnership talks aimed at doubling two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030.
UAE Deal Raises Ethical Questions
Before the G20 summit, Carney visited Abu Dhabi to meet with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan. The discussions secured up to $70 billion of Emirati investment in Canadian critical minerals, ports, and artificial intelligence.
However, the official release announcing this economic partnership contained only a brief paragraph addressing the ongoing massacres in Sudan, where both leaders condemned attacks against civilians by the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces.
The minimal attention given to Sudan's civil war, which continues to devastate the country, highlights the tension between Carney's trade priorities and Canada's traditional role in addressing global human rights crises.
While the commerce-focused strategy has demonstrated effectiveness in rebuilding economic partnerships, it raises fundamental questions about whether Canada is sacrificing its moral leadership for trade advantages in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
