Canada Must Increase Its Presence In Latin America.
In 2023, three significant events unfolded in Latin America: a severe border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, an American request for Canada to lead a multinational effort to shore up Haiti’s national police, and the election of Javier Milei as President of Argentina. All three events have the potential to significantly impact Canada’s foreign relations and our role within Latin America. Therefore, I find it alarming to hear rumours circulating in Ottawa that getting a diplomatic meeting with Minister Joly is challenging at best and impossible at worst. The Minister is Canada’s chief diplomat, and to that end, her primary responsibilities are to represent Canadian interests abroad and to engage proactively with official representatives of foreign nations stationed in Ottawa.
On December 11, 2023, I asked Global Affairs Canada for confirmation of these rumours. I also requested a list of the Minister’s meetings with the foreign diplomatic corps in Ottawa.
What I found greatly shocked me (you can see my question and the response below), as it confirmed my worst fears: The Minister has only focused on two countries in the Americas - the United States (ten meetings) and Brazil (nine meetings). While meeting with the Ambassador of the United States twice, the Minister failed to meet with any official representatives from Central or South America stationed in Ottawa.
Let’s look at three significant events that the Minister overlooked this past year – Venezuela/Guyana, Haiti, and Argentina.
Venezuela and Guyana
On October 23, 2023, Venezuela inflamed tensions in South America by decreeing that part of neighboring Guyana (the Essequibo region) was Venezuelan. The threat of a Venezuelan attack on Guyana immediately received international condemnation. On December 15, following a fake referendum on December 3, Global Affairs Canada and the Minister finally released a statement.
I find it troubling that there is no evidence of the Minister meeting with any representative of Venezuela or Guyana to try to maintain peace and security in the region. This is the closest two South American countries have come to full-scale war in several years. Why has the Minister not communicated with each country’s official representative?
On December 18, 2023, the UK Minister for the Americas and Caribbean, David Rutley, traveled to Georgetown to speak with Ambassadors from the United States, France, Canada, and the European Union on the worsening situation. Minister Rutley demonstrated what diplomacy is and the value it provides; Minister Joly, who has a vested interest in ensuring no war in our hemisphere, did not.
Haiti
In March of 2023, President Biden visited Ottawa and spoke with Prime Minister Trudeau about the worsening security situation in the Americas. Before Biden’s visit, there was much speculation about a Haitian intervention led by Canada to stamp out gangs and crime. And to be clear, this is not something the Canadian Armed Forces has the capability to undertake. Yet, according to Global Affairs’ response to my inquiry, the Minister has yet to meet with the Haitian Ambassador in Ottawa. Hence, it raises the question – how can Canada organize a peacekeeping mission when we aren’t talking to the country we have been asked to intervene in?
Election of Javier Milei
On November 19, Javier Milei defeated Sergio Massa in the second round of voting in the Argentine Presidential Election. Mr. Milei was sworn in as President on December 10 with excitement and concern from many worldwide.
Surprisingly, yet again, the Minister did not meet once in Ottawa with any representative of the Argentinian government leading up to, during, or after the election. Global Affairs Canada’s website shows trade relations between our two countries were valued at $1.3 billion in 2022. Like Canada, Argentina is a member of the G20, the Organization of American States, and is an essential regional partner. Why is Argentina being ignored by the Minister and Global Affairs Canada? Would the Minister not be concerned with the status of Canada’s $52 million earmarked for development projects in Argentina?
Looking to the future
Canada is a middle power that relies on diplomacy to advance Canadian interests. Active engagement with leaders abroad and the diplomatic corps in Ottawa is necessary to ensure our continental security.
It is unacceptable that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is ignoring official representatives of neighbouring countries. Our strength comes from our willingness to engage with our neighbours and work collaboratively with them. On February 7, 2024, at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development meeting, Minister Joly said, “We need to engage in pragmatic diplomacy to work with countries of different perspectives to prevent an international conflict.” I implore the Minister to practice what she preaches as I agree with that message. We must be engaged in the world.
Canada’s chief diplomat must meet with the diplomatic community in Ottawa and prioritize representatives of nations in the Western Hemisphere. Security in Latin America ensures continental security. The Americas must not be an afterthought in geopolitics. Our continental security depends on it.
