00:30We were the first country to be invited outside of the EPC to the summit and we attended, I attended
00:39with Prime Minister Carney last week and we are very enthusiastic about continuing to work with Europe, with like-minded
00:47countries.
00:48You see that already in the SAFE agreement, in the Security and Defense Partnership, in CETA. This is part of
00:56a very close alliance and partnership.
01:00And of course, in the European Union, there's now this debate and obviously we can take it seriously or lightly,
01:07but it's out there, which is, is Canada potentially a member of the EU in the making? Is that something
01:14that you actively consider?
01:14Well, look, what we're doing is certainly since the election of Prime Minister Carney last year is to diversify our
01:23trade relationships and really double down on this middle power initiative that the Prime Minister outlined in Davos.
01:30And that means working with like-minded countries, especially other middle powers, along a series of metrics, whether it is
01:38security and defense, whether it is economic interest, whether it's agriculture and agri-food, artificial intelligence.
01:45What you're seeing is Canada doubling down on alliances around the world.
01:49And of course, the Prime Minister made a speech in Davos and made a lot of headlines.
01:53He also reiterated in Armenia that he does believe the global order as we knew it is changing, may not
02:00come back, but the new epicenter may be Europe.
02:03I got to ask you, however, would we be here talking with this tone and sort of this conversation had
02:10President Trump not been elected?
02:12That is a big question for Europeans. Is this convenient or is this actually a relationship that makes sense?
02:17What I believe we should be looking to is how can we work together pragmatically for our respective countries in
02:27order to deliver economic benefits and defense and security benefits?
02:32That's what we're focused on in Canada.
02:35And indeed, over the last year, we've signed over 20 security, defense and economic agreements around the world, and we're
02:44just getting started.
02:45Prime Minister Carney referred to it as a rupture in the global system.
02:51What this rupture means is that we can either retreat or we can step forward as a middle power, form
02:59alliances, and ensure that we're delivering pragmatically for our domestic population.
03:06That's exactly Canada's approach right now.
03:09Just to fully understand for a European audience, what you say is these relations will now stand the test of
03:15time.
03:15This is not a response to Trump too.
03:17You believe there is potential now to build something in the medium, long term?
03:22They will stand the test of time.
03:24The reason being is that it's not just a policy response.
03:29The policy response is based on like-mindedness, on shared values, on the belief that territorial integrity, state sovereignty, multilateral
03:44trade are important values that we will continue to work collectively for in the short and the long term.
03:52I can't leave without mentioning Ukraine.
03:56I'm here in Brussels to announce additional sanctions, 28 new sanctions against Russian entities and individuals in favor of Ukraine
04:10and their position on Ukraine.
04:11We've committed almost $26 billion for Ukraine's sovereignty and the rule of law, and we will continue to stand with
04:22Ukraine in the short and the long term.
04:23And also, I do have to ask you a question, however, on Ukraine.
04:26There has been a lot of zeitgeists over the weekend about whether or not there should be mediation that is
04:31no longer the U.S. and Russia talking together, but also a European delegation.
04:35Potentially, I wonder if Canada would be interested in joining those talks, but do you believe this is now the
04:41right time to talk directly to Russia, through the Europeans, not the United States?
04:46I will say, and I've said it before, that the decisions about Ukraine's future rest with President Zelensky.
04:55We believe that any mediator that is chosen must be one that Ukraine agrees with.
05:04And in particular, we want to see a ceasefire, which Vladimir Zelensky agreed to respect it.
05:14And what we've seen is Russia violating ceasefires, violating commitments, violating international law, unjustifiably and illegally killing Ukrainian individuals, soldiers
05:33and stealing Ukrainian children.
05:35That's unacceptable.
05:36Canada stands firmly against Russia on all of those measures.
05:41But going back to the issue of mediation, because it seems now that the Ukrainians themselves understand that at some
05:47point the European Union will have to have one-on-one conversations with Russia.
05:52Otherwise, it's President Trump who is going to be at the table.
05:54It's not clear that he has the best interests of Europe or Ukraine in mind.
05:59If this is a mediator that the Ukrainians agree with and the Europeans agree with, will Canada support it?
06:05I want to reiterate, Canada supports the work of the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky.
06:13And let's just say that Ukraine is standing strongly.
06:19What you're seeing now, in fact, are countries coming to Ukraine's defence, as well as coming to Ukraine for their
06:27expertise on the battlefield, including in drone technology.
06:30And on that note, you talk about a world that is in commotion.
06:33Obviously, it is in commotion in the Middle East, too.
06:36First, President Trump has also indicated that he believes NATO countries, countries that should have helped, have not done anything
06:42for NATO, and they are totally a paper tiger.
06:45How do you see your position evolving in the situation in the Middle East?
06:48Middle East ceasefire needs to be permanent.
06:53And that means that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be freely navigable, as required under international law.
07:00Which they're not doing that.
07:00That means that those retaliatory attacks against Gulf states need to stop.
07:06And that means that Iranian nuclear proliferation needs to be discontinued.
07:13And all of those are central to Canada's foreign policy right now.
07:17We are standing with our partners in the Gulf.
07:20But when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, who's going to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
07:23Because this is causing massive ramifications around the world, global economy.
07:28In Europe, we talk about stagflation, potentially a recession.
07:30Who's going to reopen it?
07:31Because it's clear the U.S. cannot do it alone.
07:34You're exactly right.
07:35The ramifications economically and from a humanitarian perspective are deeply troubling and worrisome.
07:43The global economy is under severe threat as a result of 20% of global energy supplies being at a
07:52chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz.
07:53But it's not just energy.
07:55It's fertilizer.
07:56It's helium.
07:57And international law dictates that that Strait must be open.
08:02And it must be part of the negotiation that the parties are undertaking.
08:08So your position is not changing.
08:09As long as a war, there's a hot face.
08:11You're not getting involved.
08:12If there is a resolution on the table, then you could consider being part of this navigation mission.
08:17Once there is a permanent ceasefire in place, Canada would be prepared to consider ways of contributing,
08:26such as in demining expertise, or in cyber expertise, or in data and knowledge and logistics.
08:37But those are the purview of the Minister of National Defence, and he has been working very closely with colleagues,
08:44as have I, on the diplomacy side.
08:46Of course, and Minister, looking forward to NATO.
08:49Of course, Canada now got to the 2% spending of GDP.
08:55Canada, of course, and Canada have also said repeatedly that it will take security and defense now.
09:00Crucially, it's imperative.
09:01This is a government priority.
09:03And yet, I wonder, however, is that going to be enough to have a constructive summit going into Turkey?
09:11What kind of meeting are you expecting in Turkey?
09:13Because if I look at this, the message that I get is not that of a strong NATO.
09:17There's a lot of tensions within the institution.
09:20NATO is a resilient organization.
09:23Canada is a founding member of NATO, and we will always stay at the table to have the difficult conversations,
09:32as we did in reaching 2%, as all of the countries agreed to last year in reaching 5%.
09:39And so, I will be with the foreign ministers of NATO next week in Sweden to have the conversation about
09:47what to expect in Turkey in July.
09:50But is it constructive?
09:51The reason why I ask, is it constructive, is that if I was sitting at the table, I'd say,
09:55there's a lot of expectations on allies.
09:58They need to help.
09:58They need to pay.
09:59They now need to pay 5%.
10:01And what I hear in retribution is language that, at times, is not just aggressive, but is disrespectful.
10:07It is disrespectful to allies.
10:10Is that something that you factor in these conversations to say,
10:13yes, we are constructive, but we need to see a different mood, too?
10:17This language is unacceptable.
10:18So, I've been around this table for a number of years.
10:21I was the Minister of National Defense in 2022, when Russia further illegally invaded Ukraine,
10:27and have been participating in these NATO summits.
10:31And I will say that prior to the NATO summit, there is usually a conversation about what would be delivered.
10:38This year, we will, again, have difficult conversations, but NATO is a resilient organization.
10:45We will not always have complete unanimity, but we will always have participation at the table and working towards a
10:56solution that represents the best interests of collective defense and security.
11:01And just finally, what assessment do you make of the performance of the Secretary General?
11:05As you know, particularly here in Europe, he has come under pressure by a number of European countries who say,
11:09your job is to cater to the alliance, not one member state, and that is, of course, a U.S.,
11:14a reference to President Trump.
11:15Is that something that you would subscribe?
11:19This is a Secretary General that needs to work for all?
11:21He has been a very significant partner for us, especially on the Arctic.
11:26You'll recall we were pressing when we were opening that consulate in Greenland for an Arctic strategy from NATO.
11:36And NATO came forward with Arctic Sentry, which is an operation.
11:42We'll have a deeper conversation about a broader Arctic strategy.
11:46So, yes, I look forward to working with Secretary Ruta in the months and years to come.
11:52Well, Minister, thank you so much for joining us on your own use.
11:54Appreciate it.
11:55Thank you so much.
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