Foreign relations of Canada


The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and nations. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in global affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral and international solutions. Globalization has significantly influenced Canadian foreign policies, with the country known for its promotion of peace and security through mediation, and for providing aid to developing countries.
Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its positive global image. Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations. Since the 21st century, Canadian direct participation in UN peacekeeping efforts has greatly declined. The large decrease was a result of Canada directing its participation to UN-sanctioned military operations through NATO, rather than directly through the UN. Canada has faced controversy over its involvement in some foreign countries, notably the 1993 Somalia affair. Canada's military currently has over 3000 personnel deployed overseas in multiple operations.
Canada and the United States have a long, complex, and intertwined relationship; they are close allies, co-operating regularly on military campaigns and humanitarian efforts. Canada also maintains historic and traditional ties to the United Kingdom and to France, along with both countries' former colonies through its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Canada is noted for having a positive relationship with the Netherlands, owing, in part, to its contribution to the Dutch liberation during World War II. Canada has diplomatic and consular offices in over 270 locations in approximately 180 foreign countries.
Canada promotes its domestically shared values through participating in multiple international organizations. Canada was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and formed the North American Aerospace Defense Command together with the United States in 1958. The country has membership in the World Trade Organization, the Five Eyes, the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Canada acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. The country joined the Organization of American States in 1990, and seeks to expand its ties to Pacific Rim economies through membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. As of 2023, Canada is a signatory to 15 free trade agreements with 51 different countries.

History

Administration

In 1982, responsibility for trade was added with the creation of the Department of External Affairs and International Trade. In 1995, the name was changed to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Canada has often carried out its foreign policy through coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous federal institutions. Under the aegis of Canadian foreign policy, various departments and agencies conduct their own international relations and outreach activities. For example, the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence conduct defence diplomacy in support of national interests, including through the deployment of Canadian Defence Attachés, participation in bilateral and multilateral military forums, ship and aircraft visits, military training and cooperation, and other such outreach and relationship-building efforts.
There are two major elements of Canadian foreign relations, Canada-US relations and multilateralism.
Greg Donaghy, of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, argues:
Canada's international relations are the responsibility of the Department of Global Affairs, which is run by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Traditionally the Prime Minister has played a prominent role in foreign affairs decisions. Foreign aid, formerly delivered through the Canadian International Development Agency, has been administered by DFATD since March 2013.

Foreign aid

The strategy of the Canadian government's foreign aid policy reflects an emphasis to meet the Millennium Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign humanitarian crises. Canada promotes its domestically shared values such as health, education, food security, climate action, gender equality, economic stability, human rights, and democracy through multilateral organizations, including World Bank Group, World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the Global Fund, as well as Canadian organizations like Nutrition International, Grand Challenges Canada, and Save the Children.
In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Canada spent $12 billion on foreign aid. Canada is the 6th-largest overall contributor of official development assistance and the fifteenth largest when measured as a proportion of its gross national income. Canada provides substantial development assistance, primarily through Official Development Assistance with the goals of reducing global poverty and sustainable development. In 2024, Canada's ODA reached approximately CAD$9.6 billion, representing 0.34% of its GNI, making it a significant donor among OECD countries.
A 2024 survey by Abacus Data indicated that Canadians generally support Canada's global engagement, particularly in providing international assistance. A separate poll by CanWaCH found that 81% of Canadians support Canada providing Official Development Assistance funding. Furthermore, 77% of Canadians believe it's important for Canada to help other countries in need.

Federalism and foreign relations

The provinces have a high level of freedom to operate internationally, dating to 1886 and Quebec's first representative to France, Hector Fabre. Alberta has had representatives abroad, starting with Alberta House in London, since 1948, and British Columbia around 25 years before that. By 1984, Quebec had offices in ten countries including eight in the United States and three in other Canadian provinces while Ontario had thirteen delegations in seven countries.

Arms Control

Canadian Government guidance for export controls on weapons systems is published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Automatic Firearms Country Control List, comprises a list of approved export nations which include as of 2014;.

Multilateralism

Canada is and has been a strong supporter of multilateralism. The country is one of the world's leading peacekeepers, sending soldiers under the U.N. authority around the world. Canadian former Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequent Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, is credited for his contributions to modern international peacekeeping, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Canada is committed to disarmament, and is especially noted for its leadership in the 1997 Convention in Ottawa on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
In the last century Canada has made efforts to reach out to the rest of the world and promoting itself as a "middle power" able to work with large and small nations alike. This was demonstrated during the Suez Crisis when Lester B. Pearson mollified the tension by proposing peacekeeping efforts and the inception of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. In that spirit, Canada developed and has tried to maintain a leading role in UN peacekeeping efforts.
Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations, such as the Vietnam War or the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, but does join in sanctioned operations such as the first Gulf War, Afghanistan and Libya. It participated with its NATO and OAS allies in the Kosovo Conflict and in Haiti respectively.
Despite Canada's track record as a liberal democracy that has embraced the values of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Canada has not been involved in any major plan for Reform of the United Nations Security Council; although the Canadian government does support UN reform, in order to strengthen UN efficiency and effectiveness.

Canada’s relations within the Americas

Canada joined the Organization of American States in 1990 and has been an active member, hosting the OAS General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario, in June 2000.

Canada–Caribbean relations

Many Caribbean Community countries turn to Canada as a valued partner. Canadians, particularly Canadian banks and utility companies play an important economic role in the development of former British West Indies colonies. Efforts to improve trade have included the idea of concluding a free trade agreement to replace the 1986 bilateral CARIBCAN agreement. At various times, several Caribbean countries have also considered joining Canadian Confederation as new provinces or territories, although no Caribbean nation has implemented such a proposal. Note that many Caribbean countries are also involved in the Commonwealth of Nations, below.

Canada–Commonwealth of Nations

Canada maintains close links to the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, with which Canada has strong historic ties and shares a monarch. It also remains a member of the Commonwealth.

Canada–Europe and Canada–European Union relations

Canada is an active participant in discussions stemming from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Two overseas territories of EU members, Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon lie adjacent to Canadian territorial waters.

International organizations

Canada is a member of the following organizations:
  • Asian Development Bank
  • African Development Bank
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
  • Arctic Council
  • ASEAN Regional Forum
  • Association of Caribbean States
  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations
  • Australia Group
  • Bank for International Settlements
  • Caribbean Development Bank
  • Caribbean Postal Union
  • Commonwealth of Nations
  • Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • Food and Agriculture Organization
  • Financial Action Task Force
  • Group of Seven –
  • Group of Eight
  • Group of Ten
  • Group of Twenty
  • Inter-American Development Bank
  • International Atomic Energy Agency
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • International Civil Aviation Organization
  • International Chamber of Commerce
  • International Criminal Court
  • International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
  • International Development Association
  • International Energy Agency
  • International Fund for Agricultural Development
  • International Finance Corporation
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Hydrographic Organization
  • International Labour Organization
  • International Monetary Fund
  • International Maritime Organization
  • International Mobile Satellite Organization
  • Interpol
  • International Olympic Committee
  • International Organization for Migration
  • Inter-Parliamentary Union
  • International Organization for Standardization
  • International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
  • International Telecommunication Union
  • International Trade Union Confederation
  • Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
  • MINUSTAH
  • MONUSCO
  • North American Free Trade Agreement
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • Nuclear Energy Agency
  • Nuclear Suppliers Group
  • Organization of American States
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, International Organisation of La Francophonie
  • Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
  • Paris Club
  • ParlAmericas
  • Permanent Court of Arbitration
  • Pacific Islands Forum
  • Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal
  • Southeast European Cooperative Initiative
  • United Nations
  • United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
  • United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • United Nations Mission in the Sudan
  • United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
  • United Nations Truce Supervision Organization
  • World Tourism Organization
  • Universal Postal Union
  • World Customs Organization
  • World Federation of Trade Unions
  • World Health Organization
  • World Intellectual Property Organization
  • World Meteorological Organization
  • World Trade Organization
  • Zangger Committee