CFP Bulletin: Türkiye earthquake relief, naval deployment to Haiti, renewed NATO commitments, and more

This edition of the Canadian Foreign Policy Bulletin covers Ottawa's?earthquake relief?measures for Türkiye and Syria,?naval deployments to Haiti, renewed?commitments to NATO, and more.?

First, here's the latest from?IPD:

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Canada announces earthquake relief for Türkiye and Syria??

As the death toll in Türkiye and Syria surpasses 40,000 after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on February 6, Ottawa has announced earthquake relief measures.?

'Nothing's off the table' —?Canada has pledged financial aid to Türkiye and Syria and deployed an assessment team rather than a rescue team:?

• International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan?stated?on February 7 that the federal government will provide an initial $10 million in aid to Türkiye and Syria, noting that "nothing's off the table. We'll look at any options."
• The federal government also?declared?it will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross' appeal for the earthquake?made between February 6 and 22, up to a maximum of $10 million.
• Minister Sajjan?noted?that, while the undergoing civil war in Syria must be taken into account, Canada's $50 million aid for humanitarian support to Syria announced in 2021 can help support earthquake relief efforts.
• Sajjan also?announced?the deployment of a Canadian Disaster Assessment Team composed of Global Affairs Canada and Canadian Armed Forces personnel that are to report back on additional assistance and?the potential deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team.
• In a formal rescue team's absence, the Turkish consulate in Vancouver?reported?that the Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue group, a private group of volunteers from British Columbia, “is and will be the only team from Canada”?after a deadline for others to participate has passed.

Expediting immigration —?Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada?is considering speeding up entry for those impacted by the earthquake:

• Immigration Minister Sean Fraser?stated?that Canada may “fast-track” the processing of applications for entry into Canada for people displaced by the earthquakes.?
• “This is a conversation that we’re having,” Fraser?declared,?adding?that?his department was first trying to evaluate how this measure could affect permanent residency applicants already in Canada's immigration system.?
• A petition addressed to the Office of the Prime Minister is currently being?relayed?online, urging the government?to "ease and expedite"?family reunification applications and processes?for applicants affected by the earthquake?in Turkiye.

Measures deemed insufficient —?Commentators have been calling on the government to provide greater aid:?

• The Turkish-Canadian Society has?demanded?for?changes in how?Canada deploys rescue teams after the Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue group was the only one?deployed to Türkiye.?
• "You can't just send a team and drop them off. It is not as simple as that," Minister Sajjan?commented, adding?that Canada's pledge of $10 million was the fastest response available since the money could be quickly distributed whereas rescue teams posed major logistical challenges.?
• Several Conservative, Liberal, Bloc Quebecois, and New Democrat MPs?declared?Ottawa should match donations to more organizations?with Tory?MP Brad Redekopp saying?"the Red Cross is a great organization, doing great things. The reality, though, is that many Canadians donate to organizations they're familiar with."
• "There are many places where the Red Cross is not able to access"?noted?Richard Morgan, leader of the Humanitarian Coalition, a group that includes 12 major charities, as "the deeply local capacity of our members is underappreciated by Global Affairs [Canada]."

Ottawa pledges more aid, naval deployment?for Haiti at CARICOM

On February 15, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departed for Nassau in the Bahamas?to attend the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The worsening situation in Haiti has figured into one of the summit's top priorities.?

Renewed support to Haiti —?The Prime Minister took part in a bilateral meeting with his Haitian counterpart Ariel Henry?and discussed new support:?

• Trudeau?announced?Canada?will provide $12.3 million in new humanitarian aid as well as $10 million for the International Office on Migration to support migrants in the region.
• The new measures?included?the deployment of two Kingston-class ships,?along with over 90 Royal Canadian Navy sailors, to conduct "presence patrols" off the Haitian coast, focusing on the waters off of the capital?Port-au-Prince.
• The deployment of the vessels comes after Ottawa?announced?on February 5?that Canada has sent?a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft to provide "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability" in Haiti.?
• The Canadian Armed Forces will also?deliver?three Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected?vehicles purchased by the Haitian government that will?support the Haitian police.
• Ottawa also?imposed?additional sanctions, adding two Haitian elites to the list of individuals?who are accused of supporting or being?involved in gang violence in the country.

No military presence on the ground —?New measures did not offer military support as officials have expressed a preference for a Haiti-led solution:

• "Our fundamental objective is to ease the suffering and empower Haitians to chart their own future"?reiterated?Trudeau as the United States and United Nations have expressed their support for a potential external security intervention.?
• During the summit, Jamaica and the Bahamas both?said?they would be willing to send members of their own security forces.
• Canada's Ambassador to the UN Bob Rae, present during the bilateral meeting,?declared?that Ottawa’s role should be first and foremost to support police efforts to combat gang violence and curb the flow of illegal arms into the country.
• Canada has?deployed?one police officer, one member of the Canadian Forces, and one civilian from Global Affairs' Peace and Security Program to assess the needs of the?police and report on how Canada can assist further.
• Canadian?Ambassador to Haiti Sebastien Carriere?declared?that "accompanying the Haitian National Police and reestablishing security by backing up the HNP?[Haitian National Police]"?would be broadly supported by the Haitian population.

'There are other issues as well' —?Although Haiti was a key concern, growth, climate change, food security, and migration were on CARICOM's agenda.?

• IPD Senior Fellow Andy Knight, Professor?at the University of Alberta,?repeated?that while "Haiti is a very important problem to be addressed, there are other issues as well" such as struggling Caribbean economies after the?pandemic lockdowns and high inflation rates.
• Among other initiatives, the Prime Minister's Office?pledged?$44.8 million to address?the climate crisis in the region by protecting more biodiversity?and improving climate resilience and disaster preparedness.?
• Trudeau's attendance at the CARICOM for the first time since 2007?marks Canada's return to the Caribbean?stage with Bahamian Foreign Minister Frederick Mitchell?stating?that "Canada has been asked to take the lead," especially with respect to the security crisis in Haiti.?
• Canada?will?notably be taking on the role of Chair of the Caribbean Development Bank’s?Board of Governors in June 2023 and host the Board’s Annual Meeting in Canada in 2024.

Anand reiterates long-term support to Ukraine and bolstering NATO’s eastern flank

On February 14 and 15, National Defence Minister Anita Anand attended the ninth Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting and the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting (DMM) in Brussels.?

'Commitment to NATO is ironclad' —?Anita Anand renewed support to the alliance and Ukraine against Russia:?

• During the U.S.-led UDCG meeting,?Anand?reaffirmed?Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes," adding that the Leopard 2 tanks donated earlier this year have been delivered and that Ukrainian tanks crews are being trained by CAF members in Poland.?
• The alliance’s deterrence and defence posture?was?at the core of the discussions during the NATO DMM, with a press release?stressing?the importance of?its longer-term adaptation in a "rapidly evolving security environment."

Bolstering deterrence in Latvia —?Minister Anand also reaffirmed a commitment to strengthening NATO's forward presence in the Baltic states:?

• Through the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia led by Canada, the?commitment had?already been?reasserted?at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid with the Canadian?and Latvian Joint Declaration to augment the eFP.?
• The two countries had then declared that "we will continue to significantly strengthen the Deterrence and Defence of the Baltic Region as part of NATO’s Collective Defence obligations."
• On February 15 alongside representatives from?eFP host nations?Estonia, Latvia and?Lithuania, and her?counterparts from the UK and Germany, Anand?signed?another Joint Declaration renewing a commitment to Article 5 and implementation of the 2022 Madrid Summit decisions.

What They're Saying

The government should be commended for using its tools of financial warfare, as they are some of the stronger and more meaningful actions Canada can take in the international community. But without adequate funding, investment and attention, these tools are meaningless. Almost as meaningless as a vote to list Wagner as a terrorist entity in the House of Commons.

—?Jessica Davis, President, Insight Threat Intelligence

Simply put: the rise of the Indo-Pacific can create extraordinary local benefits, as well as opportunities for prosperity, economic growth and better paying jobs across Canada. From Cleantech to critical minerals and education programs, there is a demand in India for what Canadians make, and grow, and the services we provide. I look forward to my first official visit to India in order to strengthen our engagement, which is paramount to our Indo-Pacific Strategy.

—?Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

We must be prepared to expel Chinese diplomats involved in interference or harassment. Our failure to do so only encourages increasingly brazen meddling. This will trigger retaliation, but we must make it clear that expulsion is the inevitable consequence of such hostile behaviour.

—?David Mulroney, former Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

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