Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his first day at the G20 leadersB次元官网网址� summit Monday speaking in closed-door meetings about issues like continental trade, fighting world hunger and multilateralism, as Donald TrumpB次元官网网址檚 impending return to the White House poses risks to global support for all those things.
Trudeau spent the day in and out of meetings with world leaders from Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom, but his meeting with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden took centre stage after news that the U.S. had authorized Ukraine to use American-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia.
While Trudeau did not address that issue publicly on Monday, he did say earlier this fall that he supported Ukraine using long-range weaponry to prevent Russia from continuing to kill civilians.
Defence Minister Bill Blair said in Ottawa Monday that position has not changed, saying Canada has not placed any geographic restrictions on arms or ammunition sent to Ukraine.
B次元官网网址淲e believe that supporting UkraineB次元官网网址檚 efforts to defend themselves against the illegal invasion of Russia is important, and that everything we were able to do to help Ukraine defend itself from that illegal invasion will bring us closer to peace,B次元官网网址� Blair said.
Trudeau spoke with Biden for nearly half an hour in what could be their last meeting before Trump takes office in January. Canada has not yet provided details of the conversation but the White House said in its readout of the meeting that Biden B次元官网网址渦nderscored the importance of Canadian defence investment and the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty.B次元官网网址�
It said both leaders B次元官网网址渁greed that strengthening democracy and rule of law were essential to the prosperity and success of North America.B次元官网网址�
Canada has been under increasing pressure from allies, including the U.S., to meet the NATO target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence. While all NATO members have agreed to spend at least that much, Trudeau has said Canada will only reach the target in 2032.
The first sessions with the G20 leaders on Monday were focused on fighting global hunger and poverty. While it took place mostly behind closed doors, TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office said he told his colleagues that gender equality has to be part of any solution to solving global poverty and hunger.
His office said he discussed OttawaB次元官网网址檚 efforts to not only fund emergency relief but also to address the root causes of hunger in global food systems, including the need to reform multilateral and development-financing institutions.
The second session involved the reform of global institutions to better serve various nations, including giving more of a voice to emerging countries like Brazil.
TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office said his remarks focused on the need for the United Nations to be more inclusive and balanced, and for international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund to better serve countries that say debt interest payments have left them unable to run basic services or adapt to climate change.
His office characterized those as necessary to deal with B次元官网网址渟harpened geopolitical competition, growing unilateralism, and a backlash against globalization.B次元官网网址�
Trump is among the biggest critics of some international organizations, including the UN and the World Health Organization, and intends to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement, as he did during his first presidency.
Trudeau prioritized meetings with allies and missed the traditional B次元官网网址渇amily photoB次元官网网址� of all the leaders attending the summit B次元官网网址� as did Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with whom he was meeting at the time, and Biden.
In introductory remarks at the start of his bilateral meetings with other leaders Monday, Trudeau said Canada was relying on like-minded countries to navigate a critical moment when global instability and inequality are undermining the international rules-based order, just as armed conflicts are leading to displacement and migration.
B次元官网网址淭here are so many issues,B次元官网网址� Trudeau told Meloni. B次元官网网址淢isinformation on the global stage, the defence of democracy B次元官网网址� but also, what it all comes down to is creating opportunities for our citizens; people are struggling with affordability.B次元官网网址�
When he met his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba, TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office said the talks focused on B次元官网网址渢he importance of a free, open, and fair multilateral trading system, and how to address recent challenges in the region.B次元官网网址�
With Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trudeau highlighted their shared values around protecting the environment and creating job opportunities.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l obviously talk about the new American president and some of the work weB次元官网网址檙e going to do together around that,B次元官网网址� he said, while also noting in French B次元官网网址渢he work we have to do on immigration.B次元官网网址�
In February, the Liberals reimposed visa requirements on Mexican nationals visiting Canada, after Quebec urged Ottawa to slow an influx of asylum claimants.
Sheinbaum noted to Trudeau in Spanish that B次元官网网址渕any Mexicans have family in Canada and they also go to work there, legally, and that is very important.B次元官网网址�
TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 public remarks did not address the concerns he raised on the weekend about high levels of Chinese investment in Mexico. That issue is a potential hindrance to trade for the North American allies, given that Canada has followed the U.S. in imposing steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. ItB次元官网网址檚 also an area where Trudeau and Trump are likely on the same page.
Trudeau was set to meet Monday evening with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while a scheduled meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez did not happen.
