Patrick de Kruyff’s Post

"There have been four ministers of foreign affairs in the past five years under the Trudeau government: it is a rudderless ship with no vision for how Canada should be represented on the world stage. The prime minister’s leadership has been catastrophic for Canadian foreign policy...(The Liberals have) failed to stand with our Israeli allies, who are facing an existential threat. They’ve left Canada’s image degraded, tarnished and nearing the point of total collapse. It seems that their only foreign policy goals are to win domestic favour...Global Affairs Canada’s direction to postings in Israel or Ramallah was that their job in the region wasn’t to manage Canadian foreign policy — it was to mitigate domestic politics. It has indeed been a failure of leadership on every level. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s failure, and it is his to bear, has been a failure to provide clear moral leadership...The NDP’s motion on Canadian policy toward the Israel-Hamas war, which will be up for a vote in the House of Commons on Monday, isn’t just a minor product of this failure, it’s a catastrophic one — a seismic shift that threatens to upend 50 years of Canadian foreign policy grounded in the pursuit of peace through a negotiated settlement over the Israel-Palestine conflict...Let’s be clear: no one desires war. Israel, our steadfast ally in a tumultuous region, least of all...(the NDP’s motion) isn’t support for peace, it’s an endorsement of Hamas’s strategic objectives, an action that’s diametrically opposed to the assertion that Hamas, a recognized terrorist organization, must never be allowed to lead.   Further complicating this debacle is NDP MP Don Davies’ tweet suggesting there is an equivalence between the innocent Israeli civilians who are being held under barbaric conditions by Hamas and the Palestinians who are being held by the Israeli justice system on terrorism charges. There is no justifiable comparison between perpetrators of terrorism who were arrested under Israeli law, and toddlers and the elderly taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7. Israeli prisoners have the right to access lawyers, to contact their families, to health care and to a trial in a court of law — none of which are afforded to the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.   This isn’t foreign policy, it’s laundering Hamas propaganda through the halls of Canadian democracy, a dangerous false equivalency that dehumanizes the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre and emboldens the terrorists who are responsible for it.   And where does the Liberal government stand amidst this unfolding saga? Its tepid response is a far cry from the robust support one might expect for an ally in distress...It’s a question of who we are as a nation and what we stand for on the global stage. Do we side with democracy and peace, or do we capitulate to the demands of terror?" https://lnkd.in/gVYH6vvj

In the event of a change in US foreign policy, we could experience a return to multilateralism that improves the chances of winning in bets such as climate change or the transition in energy sources.

"If the goal of foreign policy is to help create a peaceful and prosperous world, the foreign policy establishment needs to fundamentally rethink its assumptions. Spending trillions of dollars on endless wars and defense contracts is not going to address the existential threat of climate change or the likelihood of future pandemics. It is not going to feed hungry children, reduce hatred, educate the illiterate, or cure diseases. It is not going to help create a shared global community and diminish the likelihood of war. In this pivotal moment in human history, the United States must lead a new global movement based on human solidarity and the needs of struggling people. This movement must have the courage to take on the greed of the international oligarchy, in which a few thousand billionaires exercise enormous economic and political power."

The Democratic Party's 2024 policy platform mentions Europe at the top of its chapter on foreign affairs, highlighting the success of the U.S. in rallying allies against Russia, before the chapter outlines the party's Indo-Pacific stance. https://lnkd.in/gESfW8S6

🌐 Navigating Potential Geopolitical Shifts: Canada's Strategic Response 🇨🇦 As always, Trudeau dodges leadership questions as other Liberal MPs come to his defence! In light of recent developments, the possibility of a second Trump presidency has emerged as a topic of considerable importance. As this scenario gains traction, it is incumbent upon Canada to adopt a judicious and strategic approach to safeguard our national interests. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent remarks, cautioning that a second Trump term "won't be easy," underscore the need for Canada to be proactive and adaptive. To address this, the government has announced the formation of a "Team Canada" task force, aiming to promote and defend our interests in collaboration with the United States. The potential return of the Trump administration introduces an element of unpredictability, necessitating a diplomatic strategy. Canada's Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, will co-lead this effort, emphasizing shared objectives and priorities, particularly in economic prosperity and national security. Beyond diplomatic considerations, there exists an ongoing discourse regarding the comparison between Trump's political tactics and those of Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. This narrative, suggesting "Trump North" parallels, merits careful examination as it shapes the current political landscape. In this period of uncertainty, engaging in constructive dialogue is paramount. It is crucial for us, as professionals and leaders, to foster collaboration, analyze potential impacts on our nation, and contribute to the ongoing discourse about the trajectory of Canadian politics. Let us keep the conversation forward-thinking, grounded in professionalism, and geared toward ensuring Canada's resilience amid global political shifts. #CanadaUSRelations #Geopolitics #Diplomacy #Accountability #StrategicResponse

BowerGroupAsia Senior Adviser Amb. Ford Hart’s new article for Fulcrum examines how countries in #SoutheastAsia could react to a second Trump presidency. Check it out here. ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS) #geopolitics #IndoPacific

The most urgent priority for a Harris administration’s foreign policy in the Western Balkans would be a comprehensive retooling of Washington’s posture toward Serbia. The Harris administration should recognize that the Trump- and Biden-era policies of attempting to pull Belgrade out of Moscow’s orbit have failed and, worse, have only further emboldened the most hard-line, militant elements in Serbia in their growing pretensions against neighboring states — above all, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The U.S. should categorically decouple its regional policy from Serbia and refocus its efforts on shoring up the security and democratic integrity of states and governments that have proven pro-Western track records.”

🔥 The Shifting Landscape of Foreign Policy: Rethinking Britain's Approach 📌 Dr. Turki Faisal Al Rasheed Comment At The Times and The Sunday Time #TheTimes 📌 Foreign Britain is indeed undergoing significant changes, as its strength and influence in the world are not what they used to be. The previous grand strategy no longer aligns with the reality of a country that is gradually transitioning into a medium-sized force among many other global powers. Despite still possessing a formidable military and representation in global institutions, the government is facing a public financial crisis that necessitates cuts to the armed forces and diplomatic institutions, which will have long-lasting effects. According to Lawrence Friedman, a British academic, the new strategy should focus on "taking advantage of more of a situation than the balance of power would initially suggest." In other words, instead of relying on the fading balance of power, Britain should adopt specific foreign policies that address areas of vital importance. These policies should not be bound by a grand narrative to please policy critics, but rather be pragmatic and tailored to the country's needs. The previous grand-image foreign policy was suitable for a large empire that held a monopoly of power. However, for Britain in its current state, such an outlook appears hollow and meaningless. It is essential for Britain to redefine its foreign policies based on specific goals and interests, while being willing to let go of the rest. https://lnkd.in/dYhFtTdK

Taiwan: Next domino looks set to fall in Tuvalu https://lnkd.in/gfcyBiT2 It is unclear how the Biden administration will get out of this political bind – short of pragmatically accepting the loss of diplomatic recognition of Taiwan outside the Freely Associated States.

Thrilled to share my latest commentary on the implications of a potential Trump 2.0 presidency for South China Morning Post SCMP. Thanks to Maria Siow, I had the chance to contribute to the article exploring regional unease and the broader geopolitical shifts this could trigger. Check out the full article here: SCMP Article (https://lnkd.in/g5SqNWTq) #Geopolitics #Asia #Trump2024 #InternationalRelations #Commentary