This edition of the Canadian Foreign Policy Bulletin covers Minister Joly's 'pragmatic diplomacy' speech, Canada's Gaza evacuations, its abstention from a UN ceasefire vote on the Israel-Hamas war, and more.?
First, here's the latest from?IPD:
IPD'S?ROUNDUP
The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy and the Canada West Foundation are pleased to co-host the third annual Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum (IPSF 2023) on December 4-5, 2023 in downtown Ottawa. Click here for the full program and to register.
In an op-ed for Le Devoir, Advisor Jocelyn Coulon writes (in French) that a changing world order "is forcing the Canadian government to face reality: democracies no longer dominate, and the international system is made up of states of varying degrees of authoritarianism, with multiple and divergent interests. It's time to talk to everyone."
Senior Fellow Andrew Latham appeared on Global News to discuss the strategy behind the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, also suggesting that "now generations of Palestinians and, to some extent, Israelis?have been utterly embittered.. making rapprochement and reconciliation incredibly difficult."
TOP STORIES
Joly Lays Out 'Pragmatic Diplomacy' Amidst Geopolitical Uncertainty
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly spoke?at the Economic Club of Canada and the?Montreal Council on Foreign Relations Luncheon?last week on Canada’s role in a changing world and how Ottawa should navigate new challenges.
‘An international security crisis’ —?Joly emphasized
how the?Israel-Hamas war was the latest sign of unpredictability:
- "Our world is marked by geopolitical turbulence, unpredictability, and uncertainty. The tectonic plates of the world order are shifting beneath our feet. And the structures that are built upon them are fracturing...?our international institutions are being tested.”
- “The current world order is also being questioned by people and nations, especially from the South, who challenge whether the rules reflect their reality and benefit their people. Some have expressed concerns about double standards. Or whether the current institutions and their decisions meet their needs or are fair.”
- On the war between Israel and Hamas, she said “even in crisis there are principles. Even in war there are rules. We must be guided by human dignity —?all civilians —?Israeli and Palestinian, for they are equal —?must be protected.”
- Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated
outside the venue where Joly gave her address,?demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for Joly to take a clear stance on the Israel-Hamas war as hostilities drag on.
‘A test we cannot fail’?—?The minister also spelled out the need to engage the world beyond likeminded:
- "Our foreign policy will be guided by two principles: First: Vigorously defending our sovereignty. Second: Using pragmatic diplomacy, to engage countries of different perspectives in order to prevent an international conflict.”
- “We must be pragmatic and resist the temptation to divide the world into rigid ideological camps.?For the world cannot be reduced to Democracies versus autocracies...?Forcing the majority of the world to fit into any one category would be naive, short-sighted, and counterproductive."
- "We will always defend our values. But we cannot afford to close ourselves off from those with whom we do not agree....?As respect for the rules diminishes, empty chairs serve no one. Let me be clear: I am a door opener, not a door closer."
What they’re saying — Observers have noted that Joly's frank talk around pragmatic diplomacy will need to go beyond rhetoric:
- Patrick Leblond,?Associate Professor at the?University of Ottawa, suggested
that Joly "offered very little substance and details on how Canada will achieve all that she says she wants to do. That’s why her speech is mostly about vision."
- Bhagwant Sandhu, a retired federal civil servant, stated
?that “Joly’s framework is a sound, well-reasoned policy paradigm. The real test of its value will be in its implementation.?The sad fact is—at this late stage of the game—it may not matter" with an impending election.
- IPD Advisor Jocelyn Coulon noted
Joly's speech as "the first time that a Canadian foreign minister had said so bluntly that we have to take the world as it is," adding it "almost rebuked Ms. Freeland. Canada should speak with one voice on foreign policy now.”
First Canadian Evacuations From Gaza Underway
Global Affairs Canada and Minister Joly confirmed that the first of over 400 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza were?allowed to use the Rafah crossing into Egypt this week.
Around the clock?—?GAC has faced difficulties in securing safe border crossings for all Canadians looking to leave the warzone:
- From Tokyo, Joly announced
that up to 75 Canadians were able to pass through Rafah but a press statement from her department warned that "Canada does not determine when or how many persons can cross each day."
- GAC had previously stated
that it was "communicating directly with Canadians, giving them the latest information regarding the situation" and that Joly was?"in contact with both her Israeli and Egyptian counterparts."
- Roughly 1,100 people of several nationalities have left
the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing since Wednesday under an apparent agreement among the United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar, which mediates with Hamas.
- Canada is also urging Canadian passport holders and permanent residents living in Lebanon
to leave, citing fears that the situation is “deteriorating” and that a second front of fighting could open?between Hezbollah and Israeli Defence Forces.?
‘Death haunts us every second’ —?Canadians had until now?watched?in frustration as other nationals left behind a besieged Gaza:
- GAC says
Canada has “one of the largest contingents of nationals in Gaza,” making it one of the challenges in getting the lengthy list approved, adding that "we expect further crossings daily over the coming days."
- Canadians waiting to leave have said
?it is "nearly impossible that you’re not going to get shot at or bombed" when attempting to reach Rafah by car, and that it was "ridiculous and irresponsible" to heed GAC's advice?in the absence of a ceasefire.
- PM Trudeau told
reporters on Friday, “We’ve been there from the very beginning for people leaving the West Bank, for people leaving Israel since Oct. 7. We will continue to be there to help Canadians and their families get to safety.”
Additional funding earmarked —?$10 million plus a matching program have been announced to send aid to Gaza and the surrounding region:
- Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced
?in late October the $10 million in funding for humanitarian assistance for Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and neighbouring regions to be split among the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF,?and more.
- Hussen also announced
?two days later that Canada would match donations made to the Humanitarian Coalition’s Gaza Humanitarian Emergency Appeal up to a maximum of $10 million until November 12.
- In its press?statement, GAC said that?“Canada continues to actively advocate for humanitarian pauses and the rapid, sustained and unimpeded access of essential humanitarian relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Canada's International Response Tested as Israeli Campaign Continues
One month after Hamas’ terrorist attacks and as Israel has launched ground operations in Gaza,?divisions on how nations around the world see the origins of the war have confronted the UN?as Ottawa faces similar pressures from both inside the House as well as from Canadian citizens.
‘This must stop now’ —?Demands have grown from UN leaders for a ceasefire:
- As Israel encircles Gaza, UN?leaders have repeatedly called
for a ceasefire that?Tel Aviv has rejected unless Hamas returns some 250 hostages while Hamas says it will not do so until the assault on Gaza comes to a stop.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refrained from advocating for a ceasefire,?stating
?that?Ottawa is "calling for humanitarian aid and water and fuel to flow into Gaza" while "calling on humanitarian pauses to allow that to happen.”
- On Monday, the heads of several UN bodies as well as the UN?Secretary-General Antonio Guterres?called
for "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It's been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now."
- Iddo Moed, Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, told
reporters that his country would not “cease fire, because we have a murderer shooting at us, continuing to shoot at us, and there is no reason why we should stop. He will just continue to do more.”
Tensions at the UN —?Canada abstained from a final resolution in the General Assembly that called for a ceasefire:
- The October 27?resolution
calling for an “immediate, sustained humanitarian truce,” the “rescinding of the order by Israel, the occupying Power, for Palestinian civilians and United Nations staff to evacuate" northern Gaza, as well as the "immediate and unconditional release" of all captives.
- Passing with?120 countries in favour and?14 against, Canada was among the 45 member states that abstained
from the final vote after it introduced a failed amendment that would have included condemnation of Hamas’ attacks on Israel as terrorism.
- In a statement after the vote, GAC said
?it was "essential that the international community speak clearly in condemning this terrorism by Hamas" and that Israel "has a right to defend itself against such acts of terror in accordance with international law.”
- Bob Rae, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told
the General Assembly that Canada could not support the text of the resolution as it neglected to name “the critical reason for how we got here has already been forgotten by so many, as if it never happened.”
Mounting pressure at home —?The federal government is feeling push from its citizens to both bring the hostages home and call for a humanitarian pause
- Canadian families of hostages taken on October 7 met
Trudeau and other MPs last week, asking Ottawa to?“join the international effort to pressure and promote the unconditional release of all the hostages" as Canada deployed?a hostage negotiation team to the region.
- Several members of the Liberal caucus want Canada to call for a ceasefire as the NDP caucus sent a letter to Trudeau on November 1 calling for the same, saying
?that more than 100,000 Canadians had written to the party about the issue.
- Pro-Palestinian activists have held sit-ins
at 17 MPs’ offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, including at the MP office of Minister Joly.
- The Israeli Embassy in Canada shared
?footage with Canadian journalists?of the October 7 terrorist attacks as Israeli sources also disclosed that shortened videos of the attack were shown to Canadian government officials.
Rallies across the country —?Thousands of Canadians marched in two dozen cities on Saturday in support of a ceasefire:
- The Palestinian Youth Movement which launched the rallies?demanded
?that Canada end its support for Israel's military action against Hamas as in Toronto alone, tens of thousands of Palestinian supporters lined
outside the U.S. consulate.
- Canadian politicians across the political spectrum have?condemned
?the display of a Nazi swastika on Parliament Hill during a pro-Palestinian march.
- Trudeau?stated that "the display of a swastika by an individual on Parliament Hill is unacceptable. Canadians have the right to assemble peacefully – but we cannot tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind."
- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre?said
that?"all Canadians should condemn the displays of hate and antisemitism that we continue to see at demonstrations across the country, including the targeting of Jewish businesses and the open display of a swastika."
What they’re saying —?Experts have noted that Ottawa’s UN abstention vote says a great deal about domestic debates:
- Saeid Mirzaei Yengeh, a University of Ottawa law professor, said
?"if the aim was for [Canada] to align itself with the U.S. and Israel [in the resolution], that works for that purpose. If the aim was to make arrangements for the release of hostages, the resolution was not conducive to that purpose.”
- Michael Lynk,?former UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territory, said Canada's UN abstention may not have happened without the internal debates within the Liberal caucus as well as between parties. “Justin Trudeau has a caucus that is increasingly reflecting the diversity of Canadians… If it hadn’t been for that split, and the ongoing debate in the Liberal caucus, Canada likely would have voted no along with the United States."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
[Joly's speech] suggests that the government is taking the world a little bit more seriously... The biggest change is changing the expectations of Canadians. It seems to me that the foreign minister is trying to recalibrate Canadians’ understanding of how Canada behaves in the world...?Things are not black and white. You have to deal with people that you don’t agree with; some of those people that you have to work with do things that make you feel extremely uncomfortable. That is the nature of the world where not every state shares your interest.
— Adam Chapnick
, Professor,?Royal Military College of Canada
What values or rules is [Minister Joly] or her government willing to compromise to achieve sovereignty and resilience? Minister Joly also talked about opening doors through pragmatic diplomacy, even if it means also talking to people who are not “like-minded”. Opening doors is not enough for effective diplomacy, however. It requires interlocutors to walk through the doors. And for that to happen, Canada must have something concrete to offer. Offering values, rules and sovereignty doesn’t sound very concrete (or pragmatic, to use the Minister’s term).
— Patrick Leblond
, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa
Canada’s western allies have offered some support in its confrontation with India. However, this support is extremely limited. India is too important to American efforts to contain China. India understands this and is taking full advantage of its position in this ongoing geopolitical chess game by getting what it can from the West while keeping a clear focus on its own interests...?India has its own game to play and that does not necessarily accord with what the West wants.
— Shaun Narine
,?Professor, St. Thomas University
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NEWSLETTER EDITOR:?TATIANA VELICKOVIC
