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The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and nations. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in international affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral solutions. Canada's foreign policy based on international peacekeeping and security is carried out through coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous federal institutions. Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its global image. The strategy of the Canadian government's foreign aid policy reflects an emphasis to meet the Millennium Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign humanitarian crises. Canada's strong attachment to the British Empire led to major participation in British military efforts in the Second Boer War (1899–1902), World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Since then, Canada has been an advocate for multilateralism, making efforts to resolve global issues in collaboration with other nations. During the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
, Canada was a major contributor to UN forces in the Korean War and founded the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in cooperation with the United States to defend against potential aerial attacks from the Soviet Union. Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border, co-operate on military campaigns and exercises, and are each other's largest trading partner. Canada nevertheless has an independent foreign policy. For example, it maintains full relations with Cuba and declined to participate in the Vietnam War and the
2003 invasion of Iraq The 2003 invasion of Iraq was a United States-led invasion of the Republic of Iraq and the first stage of the Iraq War. The invasion phase began on 19 March 2003 (air) and 20 March 2003 (ground) and lasted just over one month, including 26 ...
. Canada maintains historic ties to the United Kingdom and France and to other former British and French colonies through Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the . Canada is noted for having a positive relationship with the Netherlands, owing, in part, to its contribution to the Dutch liberation during World War II. Canada was a founding member of the United Nations and has membership in the World Trade Organization, the G20 and the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; french: Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, ''OCDE'') is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries ...
(OECD). Canada is also a member of various other international and regional organizations and forums for economic and cultural affairs. Canada acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. Canada joined the
Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS; es, Organización de los Estados Americanos, pt, Organização dos Estados Americanos, french: Organisation des États américains; ''OEA'') is an international organization that was founded on 30 April ...
(OAS) in 1990 and hosted the OAS General Assembly in 2000 and the
3rd Summit of the Americas The 3rd Summit of the Americas was a summit held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, on April 20–22, 2001. This international meeting was a round of negotiations regarding a proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. The talks are perhaps bette ...
in 2001. Canada seeks to expand its ties to
Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The ''Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geologic Pacific Ring of Fire. List of co ...
economies through membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).


History


Administration

In 1982, responsibility for trade was added with the creation of the Department of External Affairs and International Trade. In 1995, the name was changed to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Canada has often carried out its foreign policy through coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous federal institutions. Under the aegis of Canadian foreign policy, various departments and agencies conduct their own international relations and outreach activities. For example, the Canadian Forces and the
Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
conduct defence diplomacy in support of national interests, including through the deployment of Canadian Defence Attachés, participation in bilateral and multilateral military forums (e.g., the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces), ship and aircraft visits, military training and cooperation, and other such outreach and relationship-building efforts. There are two major elements of Canadian foreign relations, Canada-US relations and multilateralism. Greg Donaghy, of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, argues: :Since taking power in 2006, Prime Minister Harper's government has clearly abandoned the liberal internationalism that had so often characterized Ottawa's approach to world affairs, replacing it with a new emphasis on realist notions of national interest, enhanced capabilities, and Western democratic values. In August of 2022, a six-part documentary series titled, Truth to the Powerless: An Investigation into Canada's Foreign Policy, was released online to the general public to watch for free. The docuseries explored the role that Canada's foreign policy has played in the international arena and the docuseries features interviews with numerous Canadian politicians, academics, diplomats, and activists. Canada's international relations are the responsibility of the
Department of Global Affairs Global Affairs Canada (GAC; french: Affaires mondiales Canada; AMC)''Global Affairs Canada'' is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (). is the Ministry (go ...
, which is run by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position currently held by
François-Philippe Champagne François-Philippe Champagne (born June 25, 1970) is a Canadian politician who has been Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry since 2021. Champagne was formerly the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2021. He was elected to represen ...
. Traditionally the Prime Minister has played a prominent role in foreign affairs decisions. Foreign aid, formerly delivered through the Canadian International Development Agency, has been administered by DFATD since March 2013.Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


Foreign aid

Canada's foreign aid was administered by the Canadian International Development Agency, which provided aid and assistance to other countries around the world through various methods. In March 2013 CIDA ceased to exist when it was folded into DFAIT, creating DFATD. The strategy of the Canadian government's foreign aid policy reflects an emphasis to meet the Millennium Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign humanitarian crises. However a growing focus on development, defence, and diplomacy in recent decades has produced a concentration of foreign aid funding to countries determined to be security risks to Canadian policy. For example, in 2004–2005 the largest recipients of Canada's official developmental assistance were Afghanistan and Iraq, two nations in conflict with the United States of America and its allies at the time. The structural emphasis on security and industry development has contributed to a fixed foreign policy that generally fails to consider global health and international social and economic inequalities.Spiegel, J.M., and R. Huish. 2009. Canadian foreign aid for global health: Human security opportunity lost. Canadian Foreign Policy Journal 15 (3):60–84. According to the OECD, 2019 official development assistance from Canada increased 0.5% to US$4.7 billion. In addition, although Canada's foreign aid policies has been moulded with the intentions to be in accordance to the Millennium Development Goals, its focus on human security has slowly shifted away as new policy developments arose. The foreign aid provided by the country became less "people-centered" and less health-related. Canada's contributions have been quite inconsistent with regards to human security, which indicates that the reputation that the country has built throughout the years, in fact, exceeds the country's actual record. Canada's contributions internationally have been detrimental and crucial but it needs redirecting back to its original goals.


Federalism and foreign relations

The provinces have a high level of freedom to operate internationally, dating from Quebec's first representative to France in 1886, Hector Fabre. Alberta has had representatives abroad, starting with Alberta House in London (37 Hill Street), since 1948, and British Columbia around 25 years before that. By 1984, Quebec had offices in ten countries including eight in the United States and three in other Canadian provinces while Ontario had thirteen delegations in seven countries. Most provincial governments have a ministry of international relations, both Quebec and New Brunswick are members of La Francophonie (separately from the federal delegation), Alberta has quasi-diplomatic offices in Washington (currently staffed by former cabinet minister
Gary Mar Gary Glen Mar , (; born July 26, 1962) is a Canadian businessman and former politician in Alberta. He is currently the President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation. Mar had served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1 ...
). Provincial premiers were always part of the famous
Team Canada Canadian National Team or Team Canada may refer to: Canada at multi-sport events * Canada at the Olympics * Canada at the Paralympics * Canada at the Commonwealth Games * Canada at the Pan American Games Canada's national sport teams * Canada me ...
trade missions of the 1990s. In 2007, Quebec premier Jean Charest proposed a free trade agreement with the European Union. Provinces have always participated in some foreign relations, and appointed agents general in the United Kingdom and France for many years, but they cannot legislate treaties. The French-speaking provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick are members of '' la Francophonie'', and Ontario has announced it wishes to join. Quebec has pursued its own foreign relations, especially with France. Alberta opened an office in Washington, D.C., in March 2005 to lobby the American government, mostly to reopen the borders to import of Canadian beef. With the exception of Quebec, none of these efforts undermine the ability of the federal government to conduct foreign affairs.


Bilateral relations


Africa


Americas


Asia


Europe


Oceania


Other bilateral and plurilateral relations

One important difference between Canadian and American foreign policy has been in relations with
communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
governments. Canada established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (13 October 1970) long before the Americans did (1 January 1979). It also has maintained trade and diplomatic relations with communist Cuba, despite pressures from the United States.


Arms Control

Canadian Government guidance for export controls on weapons systems is published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Automatic Firearms Country Control List, comprises a list of approved export nations which include as of 2014; (Albania, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States).


Selected dates of diplomatic representation abroad

*Australia – 1939 – first high commissioner Charles Burchell *Belgium – January 1939 – first ambassador Jean Désy *China – 1943 – first ambassador General Victor Odlum *France – 1882 – agent without diplomatic status Hector Fabre *France – 1928 – first minister Philippe Roy *France – 1944 – first ambassador
George Philias Vanier Georges-Philias Vanier (23 April 1888 – 5 March 1967) was a Canadian military officer and diplomat who served as governor general of Canada, the first Quebecer and second Canadian-born person to hold the position. Vanier was born and ...
*International Criminal Court – 2003 – first Judge-President Philippe Kirsch *Japan – May 1929 – first minister Sir
Herbert Marler Sir Herbert Meredith Marler (March 7, 1876 – January 31, 1940) was a Canadian politician and diplomat. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Marler earned a law degree from McGill University and entered his father's notary business which eventually ...
*Mexico – January 1944 – first ambassador
William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon, (June 3, 1877 – January 11, 1969) was a Canadian politician and judge in the Province of Saskatchewan. He also served as a diplomat for the Government of Canada. Early life Turgeon was born in Petit ...
*Netherlands – January 1939 – first ambassador Jean Désy *Newfoundland – 1941 – first high commissioner Charles Burchell *United Kingdom – 1880 – first high commissioner Sir Alexander Galt *United Nations – first ambassador General
Andrew McNaughton Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derived ...
*United States of America – 1926 – first minister Vincent Massey


Multilateralism

Canada is and has been a strong supporter of multilateralism. The country is one of the world's leading peacekeepers, sending soldiers under the U.N. authority around the world. Canadian former Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequent Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, is credited for his contributions to modern international peacekeeping, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Canada is committed to disarmament, and is especially noted for its leadership in the 1997 Convention in Ottawa on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. In the last century Canada has made efforts to reach out to the rest of the world and promoting itself as a " middle power" able to work with large and small nations alike. This was demonstrated during the
Suez Crisis The Suez Crisis, or the Second Arab–Israeli war, also called the Tripartite Aggression ( ar, العدوان الثلاثي, Al-ʿUdwān aṯ-Ṯulāṯiyy) in the Arab world and the Sinai War in Israel,Also known as the Suez War or 1956 Wa ...
when Lester B. Pearson mollified the tension by proposing
peacekeeping Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare. Within the United N ...
efforts and the inception of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. In that spirit, Canada developed and has tried to maintain a leading role in UN peacekeeping efforts. Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations, such as the Vietnam War or the
2003 Invasion of Iraq The 2003 invasion of Iraq was a United States-led invasion of the Republic of Iraq and the first stage of the Iraq War. The invasion phase began on 19 March 2003 (air) and 20 March 2003 (ground) and lasted just over one month, including 26 ...
, but does join in sanctioned operations such as the first Gulf War, Afghanistan and Libya. It participated with its NATO and OAS allies in the Kosovo Conflict and in
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
respectively. Despite Canada's track record as a liberal democracy that has embraced the values of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Canada has not been involved in any major plan for Reform of the United Nations Security Council; although the Canadian government does support UN reform, in order to strengthen UN efficiency and effectiveness. Canada hosted the third
Summit of the Americas The Summit of the Americas (SOA) is an international summit meeting that brings together the leaders of countries in the Organization of American States (OAS). Cuba was expelled from the OAS under pressure from the United States after the Cuban Re ...
in Quebec City. Canada is working on setting up military bases around the world, while reducing aid and diplomatic efforts. In the late 90s, Canada actively promoted the notion of human security as an alternative to business-as-usual approaches to foreign aid. However, by invoking the "three Ds" (defense, diplomacy, and development) as the fundamental basis for Canadian foreign policy, and then implementing this in a manner that conforms more to military security and trade interests, Canada has successfully distanced itself from the humanitarian objectives of foreign aid, with the human security goal far from being achieved.  Under the Harper government, emphasis on promoting Canada's military presence internationally has included an effort to rebrand Canada historically as a "warrior nation", in large measure to counter the image of only supporting peacekeeping and multilateralism.


Canada’s relations within the Americas

Canada joined the
Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS; es, Organización de los Estados Americanos, pt, Organização dos Estados Americanos, french: Organisation des États américains; ''OEA'') is an international organization that was founded on 30 April ...
(OAS) in 1990 and has been an active member, hosting the OAS General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario, in June 2000.


Canada–Caribbean relations

Many Caribbean Community countries turn to Canada as a valued partner. Canadians, particularly Canadian banks and utility companies play an important economic role in the development of former British West Indies colonies. Efforts to improve trade have included the idea of concluding a free trade agreement to replace the 1986 bilateral
CARIBCAN The Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement known as ("CARIBCAN") is a Canadian government programme, established in 1986 by the Parliament of Canada. The agreement was created to promote trade, investment and provide industrial cooperation through the p ...
agreement. At various times, several Caribbean countries have also considered joining Canadian Confederation as new provinces or territories, although no Caribbean nation has implemented such a proposal. Note that many Caribbean countries are also involved in the Commonwealth of Nations, below.


Canada–Latin American relations

In recent years Canadian leaders have taken increasing interest in Latin America. Canada has had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since January 1953 and the relations are based on mutual commercial interests, especially in technology, oil and gas industry, telecommunications and others. Canada has an ongoing trade dispute with Brazil.


Canada–Asia relations

In 1985 the Parliament of Canada passed an Act to create the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, a think-tank focusing on Canada-Asia relations, in order to enhance Canada-Asia relations. Canada also seeks to expand its ties to
Pacific Rim The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The ''Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geologic Pacific Ring of Fire. List of co ...
economies through membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).


Canada–Commonwealth of Nations

Canada maintains close links to the United Kingdom and other
Commonwealth realm A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is shared among the other realms. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealt ...
s, with which Canada has strong historic ties and shares a monarch. It also remains a member of the
Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
.


Canada–Europe and Canada–European Union relations

Canada is an active participant in discussions stemming from the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, prom ...
(OSCE).


International organizations

Canada is a member of the following organizations: * Asian Development Bank (ADB) (nonregional member) * African Development Bank (AfDB) (nonregional member) * Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) * Arctic Council *
ASEAN Regional Forum ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, mi ...
(ARF) * Association of Caribbean States (ACS) (observer and partner) * Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (dialogue partner) * Australia Group * Bank for International Settlements (BIS) * Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) (nonregional member) *
Caribbean Postal Union The Caribbean Postal Union (CPU) is an association of the postal authorities of the following member countries: : Anguilla ( Anguilla Postal Service) : Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua Post Office) : Aruba (Post Aruba) : Bahamas (Bahamas Postal Se ...
(CPU) * Commonwealth of Nations * Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) *
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is an international financial institution founded in 1991. As a multilateral developmental investment bank, the EBRD uses investment as a tool to build market economies. Initially focus ...
(EBRD) * Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) * Financial Action Task Force (FATF) * Group of Seven (G7) – * Group of Eight (G8) * Group of Ten (G-10) * Group of Twenty (G-20) *
Inter-American Development Bank The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB or IADB) is an international financial institution headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States of America, and serving as the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribb ...
(IADB) *
International Atomic Energy Agency The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was established in 1957 ...
(IAEA) *
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is an international financial institution, established in 1944 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, that is the lending arm of World Bank Group. The IBRD offers l ...
(IBRD) (also known as the World Bank) * International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) * International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) * International Criminal Court (ICCt) *
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, an ...
(ICRM) *
International Development Association The International Development Association (IDA) (french: link=no, Association internationale de développement) is an international financial institution which offers concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest developing countries. Th ...
(IDA) *
International Energy Agency The International Energy Agency (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation, established in 1974, that provides policy recommendations, analysis and data on the entire global energy sector, with a recent focus on curbing carb ...
(IEA) *
International Fund for Agricultural Development The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD; french: link=no, Fonds international de développement agricole (FIDA)) is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address ...
(IFAD) * International Finance Corporation (IFC) *
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a worldwide humanitarian aid organization that reaches 160 million people each year through its 192-member National Societies. It acts before, during and after disas ...
(IFRCS) * International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) * International Labour Organization (ILO) * International Monetary Fund (IMF) *
International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO, French: ''Organisation maritime internationale'') is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. The IMO was established following agreement at a UN conference ...
(IMO) * International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) *
Interpol (organization) The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO; french: link=no, Organisation internationale de police criminelle), commonly known as Interpol ( , ), is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and cr ...
(Interpol) * International Olympic Committee (IOC) * International Organization for Migration (IOM) *
Inter-Parliamentary Union The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU; french: Union Interparlementaire, UIP) is an inter-parliamentary institution, international organization of national parliaments. Its primary purpose is to promote democratic governance, accountability, and coop ...
(IPU) * International Organization for Standardization (ISO) * International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) * International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) * Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) * MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) * MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) *
North American Free Trade Agreement The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA ; es, Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte, TLCAN; french: Accord de libre-échange nord-américain, ALÉNA) was an agreement signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States that crea ...
(NAFTA) * North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) * Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) * Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) *
Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS; es, Organización de los Estados Americanos, pt, Organização dos Estados Americanos, french: Organisation des États américains; ''OEA'') is an international organization that was founded on 30 April ...
(OAS) *
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; french: Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, ''OCDE'') is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries ...
(OECD) * Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) * Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) *
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world's largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, prom ...
(OSCE) * Paris Club * ParlAmericas * Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) *
Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 197 ...
(PIF) (partner) * Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal * Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) (observer) * United Nations (UN) * United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) * United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) * United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) * United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) * United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) * United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) * United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) * United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) * United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) * World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) * Universal Postal Union (UPU) * World Customs Organization (WCO) * World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) * World Health Organization (WHO) * World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) * World Meteorological Organization (WMO) * World Trade Organization (WTO) *
Zangger Committee The Zangger Committee, also known as the Nuclear Exporters Committee, sprang from Article III.2 of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which entered into force on March 5, 1970. Under the terms of Article III.2 International ...


Relations with international groups


Organizations with headquarters in Canada

*
International Air Transport Association The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...
* International Civil Aviation Organization * Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization * North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission * United Nations Association in Canada


Major treaties signed in Canada

* Ottawa Treaty or ''Mine Ban Treaty'' (1997) * Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) * Great Peace of Montreal (1701)


Territorial and boundary disputes

Canada and the United States have negotiated the boundary between the countries over many years, with the last significant agreement having taken place in 1984 when the International Court of Justice ruled on the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Maine. Likewise, Canada and France had previously contested the maritime boundary surrounding the islands of
St. Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...
, but accepted a 1992 International Court of Arbitration ruling. Remaining disputes include managed maritime boundary disputes with the US ( Dixon Entrance,
Beaufort Sea The Beaufort Sea (; french: Mer de Beaufort, Iñupiaq: ''Taġiuq'') is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska, and west of Canada's Arctic islands. The sea is named after Sir Fr ...
, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island).


Arctic disputes

A long-simmering dispute between Canada and the U.S. involves the issue of Canadian sovereignty over the Northwest Passage (the sea passages in the Arctic). Canada's assertion that the Northwest Passage represents internal (territorial) waters has been challenged by other countries, especially the U.S., which argue that these waters constitute an international strait (international waters). Canadians were incensed when Americans drove the reinforced oil tanker Manhattan through the Northwest Passage in 1969, followed by the icebreaker
Polar Sea Polar may refer to: Geography Polar may refer to: * Geographical pole, either of two fixed points on the surface of a rotating body or planet, at 90 degrees from the equator, based on the axis around which a body rotates *Polar climate, the cli ...
in 1985, both without asking for Canadian permission. In 1970, the Canadian government enacted the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, which asserts Canadian regulatory control over pollution within a zone. In response, the Americans in 1970 stated, "We cannot accept the assertion of a Canadian claim that the Arctic waters are internal waters of Canada.... Such acceptance would jeopardize the freedom of navigation essential for United States naval activities worldwide." A compromise was reached in 1988, by an agreement on "Arctic Cooperation," which pledges that voyages of American icebreakers "will be undertaken with the consent of the Government of Canada." However the agreement did not alter either country's basic legal position. Essentially, the Americans agreed to ask for the consent of the Government of Canada without conceding that they were obliged to. In January 2006, David Wilkins, the American ambassador to Canada, said his government opposes Stephen Harper's proposed plan to deploy military icebreakers in the Arctic to detect interlopers and assert Canadian sovereignty over those waters. Also, there is a dispute with Denmark over the sovereignty of the uninhabited
Hans Island Hans Island ( Inuktitut and kl, Tartupaluk, ; Inuktitut syllabics: ; da, Hans Ø; french: Île Hans) is an island in the very centre of the Kennedy Channel of Nares Strait in the high Arctic region, split between the Canadian territory of ...
and surrounding waters in the Kennedy Channel between
Ellesmere Island Ellesmere Island ( iu, script=Latn, Umingmak Nuna, lit=land of muskoxen; french: île d'Ellesmere) is Canada's northernmost and List of Canadian islands by area, third largest island, and the List of islands by area, tenth largest in the world. ...
and Greenland. Along with other nations in the Arctic Council, Canada, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Russia, the maritime boundaries in the far north will be decided after countries have completed their submissions, due in 2012. Russia has made an extensive claim based on the Russian position that everything that is an extension of the
Lomonosov Ridge The Lomonosov Ridge (russian: Хребет Ломоносова, da, Lomonosovryggen) is an unusual underwater ridge of continental crust in the Arctic Ocean. It spans between the New Siberian Islands over the central part of the ocean to Elles ...
should be assigned to Russia. Their submission had been rejected when first submitted by the United Nations in 2001. The regions represent some of the most extreme environments on Earth yet there is a hope for hypothetically commercially viable oil and gas deposits. In June 2019, the U.S. State Department spokesperson
Morgan Ortagus Morgan Deann Ortagus (born July 10, 1982) is an American television commentator, financial analyst, and political advisor who served as spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 2019 to 2021. She previously held government posit ...
said the US "view Canada’s claim that the waters of the Northwest Passage are internal waters of Canada as inconsistent with international law."


See also

* Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations *
Canada and the Iraq War The Iraq War began with the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Government of Canada did not at any time formally declare war against Iraq, and the level and nature of this participation, which changed over time, was controversial. Canada's intelli ...
* Canada and the Vietnam War * Canada–NATO relations * Canada and the United Nations * Defence Diplomacy * Department of Intergovernmental Affairs (New Brunswick) * Diplomatic Forum * List of Canadian Ministers of Foreign Affairs * List of Canadian Ministers for International Cooperation * List of Canadian Ministers of International Trade *
List of Canadian Secretaries of State for External Affairs The Minister of Foreign Affairs (french: Ministre des Affaires étrangères) is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the Government of Canada's international relations and is the lead minister respo ...
* List of diplomatic missions in Canada *
List of diplomatic missions of Canada This is a list of diplomatic missions of Canada. Canada has an extensive diplomatic network maintained by Global Affairs Canada. Overview As a Commonwealth country, Canada's diplomatic missions in the capitals of other Commonwealth countries are ...
* List of state and official visits by Canada * Ministry of International Relations (Quebec) *
Visa requirements for Canadian citizens Visa requirements for Canadian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Canada. Canadian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 185 countries and territories, ranking t ...


References


Further reading

* Murray, Robert W. and Paul Gecelovsky, eds. ''The Palgrave Handbook of Canada in International Affairs'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021
online
* * Bothwell, Robert. ''Canada and the United States'' (1992
online
* Bothwell, Robert. ''The big chill: Canada and the Cold War'' (1998
online
* Bothwell, Robert. ''Alliance and illusion : Canada and the world, 1945-1984'' (2007
online
* Bothwell, Robert and Jean Daudelin eds. ''Canada Among Nations: 100 Years of Canadian Foreign Policy'' (2009) * Boucher, Jean-Christophe. "Yearning for a progressive research program in Canadian foreign policy." ''International Journal'' 69.2 (2014): 213–228
online commentary H-DIPLO
* Bouka, Yolande, et al. "Is Canada's Foreign Policy Really Feminist? Analysis and Recommendations." ''Policy'' 13 (2021)
online
* Bow, Brian, and Andrea Lane, eds. ''Canadian Foreign Policy: Reflections on a Field in Transition'' (2020
excerpt
* * Bugailiskis, Alex, and Andrés Rozental, eds. ''Canada Among Nations, 2011-2012: Canada and Mexico's Unfinished Agenda'' (2012
further details
* Carnaghan, Matthew, Allison Goody,
Canadian Arctic Sovereignty
(Library of Parliament: Political and Social Affairs Division, 26 January 2006) * Chapnick, Adam, and Christopher J. Kukucha, eds. ''The Harper Era in Canadian Foreign Policy: Parliament, Politics, and Canada’s Global Posture'' (UBC Press, 2016). * Collins, Jeffrey F. "Defence Procurement and Canadian Foreign Policy." in ''The Palgrave Handbook of Canada in International Affairs'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021) pp. 275-295. * Congressional Research Service. ''Canada-U.S. Relations'' (Congressional Research Service, 2021
2021 Report
by an agency of the U.S. government; not copyright; Updated February 10, 2021. * Eayrs, James. ''In Defence of Canada''. (5 vols. University of Toronto Press, 1964–1983) the standard history * Fox, Annette Baker. ''Canada in World Affairs'' (Michigan State University Press, 1996) * * Glazov, Jamie. ''Canadian Policy Toward Khrushchev's Soviet Union'' (2003). * Granatstein, J. L., ed. ''Canadian foreign policy : historical readings'' (1986), excerpts from primary sources and scholar
online free
* * Hampson, Fen Osler, and James A. Baker. ''Master of Persuasion: Brian Mulroney's Global Legacy'' (2018) * Hawes, Michael K., and Christopher John Kirkey, eds. ''Canadian Foreign Policy in a Unipolar World'' (Oxford UP, 2017). * Hillmer, Norman and Philippe Lagassé. ''Justin Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Policy: Canada Among Nations 2017'' (2018) * Holmes John W. ''The Shaping of Peace: Canada and the Search for World Order''. (2 vols. University of Toronto Press, 1979, 1982) * * James, Patrick, Nelson Michaud, and Marc O'Reilly, eds. ''Handbook of Canadian foreign policy'' (Lexington Books, 2006), essays by experts; 610p
excerpt
* James, Patrick. ''Canada and Conflict'' (Oxford University Press, 2012
H-DIPLO online reviews June 2014
* Kirk, John M. and Peter McKenna; ''Canada-Cuba Relations: The Other Good Neighbor Policy'' UP of Florida (1997). * Kirton, John and Don Munton, eds. ''Cases and Readings in Canadian Foreign Policy Since World War II'' (1992) 24 episodes discussed by experts * Kukucha, Christopher J. "Neither adapting nor innovating: the limited transformation of Canadian foreign trade policy since 1984." ''Canadian Foreign Policy Journal'' (2018): 1–15. * McCormick, James M. "Pivoting toward Asia: Comparing the Canadian and American Policy Shifts." ''American Review of Canadian Studies'' 46.4 (2016): 474–495. * McCullough, Colin, and Robert Teigrob, eds. ''Canada and the United Nations: Legacies, Limits, Prospects'' (2017). * Melnyk, George. ''Canada and the New American Empire: War and Anti-War'' University of Calgary Press, 2004, highly critical * Michaud, Nelson. "Balancing Interests and Constraints: The Role of Provinces in the Shaping of Canadian Foreign Policy." in ''Political Turmoil in a Tumultuous World'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021) pp. 77-104. * Miller, Ronnie. ''Following the Americans to the Persian Gulf: Canada, Australia, and the Development of the New World Order'' (Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1994) * Molot, Maureen Appel. "Where Do We, Should We, Or Can We Sit? A Review of the Canadian Foreign Policy Literature", ''International Journal of Canadian Studies'' (Spring-Fall 1990) 1#2 pp 77–96. * Nossal, Kim Richard et al. ''International Policy and Politics in Canada'' (2010), university textbook
online 1989 edition
* Paris, Roland. "Are Canadians still liberal internationalists? Foreign policy and public opinion in the Harper era." ''International Journal'' 69.3 (2014): 274–307
online
* Rochlin, James. ''Discovering the Americas: The Evolution of Canadian Foreign Policy towards Latin America'' (University of British Columbia Press, 1994) * Sarty, Keigh. “The Fragile Authoritarians: China, Russia and Canadian Foreign Policy.” ''International Journal'' 75:4 (December 2020): 614–628. DOI
The fragile authoritarians: China, Russia, and Canadian foreign policyonline review
* Stacey, C. P. '' Canada and the Age of Conflict: Volume 1: 1867–1921'' (1979), a standard scholarly history * Stacey, C. P. ''Canada and the Age of Conflict, 1921–1948. Vol. 2.'' (University of Toronto Press, 1981), a standard scholarly history
online
* Stairs Denis, and Gilbert R. Winham, eds. ''The Politics of Canada's Economic Relationship with the United States'' (University of Toronto Press, 1985) * Stevenson, Brian J. R. ''Canada, Latin America, and the New Internationalism: A Foreign Policy Analysis, 1968–1990'' (2000) * * Tiessen, Rebecca, and Heather A. Smith. "Canada’s ‘Feminist’ Foreign Policy Under the Harper Conservatives (2006–2015) and Trudeau Liberals (2015–2019) in Global Perspective." in ''The Palgrave Handbook of Canada in International Affairs'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021) pp. 117-139. * Wildeman, Jeremy. "Assessing Canada’s foreign policy approach to the Palestinians and Israeli-Palestinian peacebuilding, 1979–2019." ''Canadian Foreign Policy Journal'' 27.1 (2021): 62-80
online
* Wildeman, Jeremy. "The Middle East in Canadian foreign policy and national identity formation." ''International Journal'' 76.3 (2021): 359-383
online
* Wilson, Robert R. and David R. Deener; ''Canada-United States Treaty Relations'' (Duke University Press, 1963)


Primary Sources

* * * Riddell, Walter A. ed. ''Documents on Canadian Foreign Policy, 1917–1939'' Oxford University Press, 1962 806 pages of documents


External links


Foreign Affairs Canada – Heads of Posts List

Embassy: Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly

Canada's place in world affairs

Foreign Affairs Canada – Canada and the World: A History
a history of Canadian foreign policy.
Foreign Affairs Canada – Country and Regional Information
a summary of Canada's relations with each foreign government as well as some international regions and organizations
Canada at the Group of 8

"H-Diplo Roundtable on Patrick James. Canada and Conflict" (June 2014)

Global Affairs Canada
Treaties ruling relations Argentina and Canada
Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Globalization

Global Affairs Canada
Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Office about relations with Argentina {{DEFAULTSORT:Foreign Relations of Canada Canada and the Commonwealth of Nations