NAMI News

The latest trinational news.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Proximity, reality, strategy, destiny

Globe and Mail, June 27, 2009 - “The forces of history are challenging Canada’s relationship with the U.S. – it’s time to make some choices - South of the border, Barack Obama is bringing a strategic focus to American foreign policy. An emphasis on multilateralism, a determined effort to refurbish the image of the United States, the pursuit of dialogue with Iran, a reaching out to the Islamic world, reinvigorating negotiations in the Middle East, a renewal of nuclear disarmament with Russia, leadership on climate change – these are all part of the President’s new global agenda. One item that seems to be missing is any strategic focus in Washington on its northern neighbour. Aside from Mr. Obama’s campaign proposal to renegotiate NAFTA (since abandoned), the new initiatives coming out of Washington seem directed to the hardening of our common border, the unleashing of a flood of Buy American laws and the badmouthing of our oil sands. Unlike Ronald Reagan, who had a vision of a deep trilateral relationship in North America and free trade throughout the Western Hemisphere, Mr. Obama and his advisers, notwithstanding his choice of Ottawa for his first official visit, show little interest in the relationship with Canada. If there is no sign in the U.S. government of a strategic vision toward Canada, our own government has reciprocated by showing no sign of interest in a strategic review of our relations with the United States. But now the forces of history and economic change are challenging the dominant characteristic of our foreign policy for more than half a century: our privileged relationship with the United States.” Read More.

Posted by Sharon Kelley | Permalink

Comments:

There are no comments at this time for this entry.

 

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

NAMI publishes a monthly e-newsletter of trinational and organizational news. If you would like to keep up with NAMI, trinational issues and NAMI's exclusive events, click here to sign up today.