Colin Robertson

Well, it is diplomacy, and he's been very careful not to be critical of Donald Trump. Our previous prime minister, who I think Trump initially liked because he had the name and he's an attractive personality, because he was seen to diss Trump behind his back, that brought on his ire and the relationship never improved.

Well, it is diplomacy, and he's been very careful not to be critical of Donald Trump. Our previous prime minister, who I think Trump initially liked because he had the name and he's an attractive personality, because he was seen to diss Trump behind his back, that brought on his ire and the relationship never improved.

So Carney's very conscious of that, but he's also keeping some distance and pointing out to Trump, you've got to respect our sovereignty. And part of that, of course, is inviting the king over because he knows that Donald Trump has an affection for the monarchy.

So Carney's very conscious of that, but he's also keeping some distance and pointing out to Trump, you've got to respect our sovereignty. And part of that, of course, is inviting the king over because he knows that Donald Trump has an affection for the monarchy.

So having the king come over to Canada and reminding him that indeed Canada is a sovereign, different country, and it's a kind of subtle message, but it will also send a message to the world, especially given we're going to be hosting the G7 in a couple of weeks.

So having the king come over to Canada and reminding him that indeed Canada is a sovereign, different country, and it's a kind of subtle message, but it will also send a message to the world, especially given we're going to be hosting the G7 in a couple of weeks.

You touched on Carney being respectful of Trump. He obviously went to Washington already and got the gilded Oval Office treatment, not the same treatment as Ukraine's president or South Africa's leader. But Donald Trump seems to respect him as the president does Britain's leader, Keir Starmer. How can the Canadian PM play that up in dealing directly with Trump?

You touched on Carney being respectful of Trump. He obviously went to Washington already and got the gilded Oval Office treatment, not the same treatment as Ukraine's president or South Africa's leader. But Donald Trump seems to respect him as the president does Britain's leader, Keir Starmer. How can the Canadian PM play that up in dealing directly with Trump?

Well, I think what he's trying to do is he's trying to find, in a sense, counterweights to the United States. The first objective has got to be, remember, you can't change geography, nor would we want to. The biggest market in the world is still the United States.

Well, I think what he's trying to do is he's trying to find, in a sense, counterweights to the United States. The first objective has got to be, remember, you can't change geography, nor would we want to. The biggest market in the world is still the United States.

And having preferred access to the United States and having a security relationship as the most powerful military in the world makes an awful lot of sense. So that's the first objective. But as Carney has said, you've always got to plan for the worst. So he's looking for alternatives. And you look first to your old partners.

And having preferred access to the United States and having a security relationship as the most powerful military in the world makes an awful lot of sense. So that's the first objective. But as Carney has said, you've always got to plan for the worst. So he's looking for alternatives. And you look first to your old partners.

And that's why he went to Paris and met with Emmanuel Macron and then went to London to meet with Sakhir Starmer and has pledged that Canada will be part of the Starmer-Macron coalition, the willing to support Ukraine coalition. talking with them on industrial defense cooperation and production.

And that's why he went to Paris and met with Emmanuel Macron and then went to London to meet with Sakhir Starmer and has pledged that Canada will be part of the Starmer-Macron coalition, the willing to support Ukraine coalition. talking with them on industrial defense cooperation and production.

And in terms of our trade diversification, we have transatlantic and transpacific agreements, but we only use them to about 50% or 60% efficiency. And so that's something that we'll have to do more of, keeping in mind that it's not governments that do trade, but business.

And in terms of our trade diversification, we have transatlantic and transpacific agreements, but we only use them to about 50% or 60% efficiency. And so that's something that we'll have to do more of, keeping in mind that it's not governments that do trade, but business.

And so business in Canada has got to be encouraged to find business opportunities, both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere, particularly in the Americas, where we also have 50-plus free trade agreements.

And so business in Canada has got to be encouraged to find business opportunities, both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere, particularly in the Americas, where we also have 50-plus free trade agreements.

Colin Robertson, a career Canadian diplomat who is now with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Colin, thank you for your time.

Colin Robertson, a career Canadian diplomat who is now with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Colin, thank you for your time.