TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s foreign minister said Tuesday that the country must spend more on its military now that the U.S. is questioning its role of global leadership.
Freeland said Canadians will always be grateful for the outsized role the U.S. has played in the world and Canada will seek to persuade Washington that its continued leadership is in the interest of the U.S. and the free world.
She didn’t mention President Donald Trump by name but reiterated Canada’s disappointment in Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
“Many of the voters in last year’s presidential election cast their ballots, animated in part by a desire to shrug off the burden of world leadership,” Freeland said. “The fact that our friend and ally has come to question the very worth of its mantle of global leadership, puts into sharper focus the need for the rest of us to set our own clear and sovereign course.”
Freeland said Canada must do its fair share and dismissed those who are reluctant to spend billions on the military because Canada could “free ride on U.S. military power.”
“To put it plainly: Canadian diplomacy and development sometimes require the backing of hard power,” she said.
A world without a leader: Canada to invest in defense spending due to a weakening US
The US is weakening? That's news to me.
The US is losing influence in the world and its old alliances have taken a heavy hit. Trump has shown everyone -- friends and foes alike -- that the world CANNOT depend on the US for security, moral leadership, or even to answer when called upon where it is obligated (NATO). In short, the world is moving on from the US, and the US will soon be just another nation and trading partner. One among many.
as far as economic trade agreements -nobody want the TPP -not Hillary or Bernie or TrumpFreeland said Canada must do its fair share and dismissed those who are reluctant to spend billions on the military because Canada could “free ride on U.S. military power.”
“To put it plainly: Canadian diplomacy and development sometimes require the backing of hard power,” she said.
The US is losing influence? I don't see that happening. What I do see is whiny little bitch countries upset that they're no longer getting carte blanche.
What I see is other countries moving on because they can no longer depend on the US for leadership. Certainly not moral, certainly not environmental, and there is only a tentative commitment to NATO or to intercede when another ally calls. Trump just attacked the mayor of London in the aftermath of a terrorist incident. Imagine if someone did that to Giuliani during 9/11.
This damage cannot be repaired easily, if at all.
Is Article 5 obsolete? ( no)
as far as economic trade agreements -nobody want the TPP -not Hillary or Bernie or Trump
The US is losing influence in the world and its old alliances have taken a heavy hit. Trump has shown everyone -- friends and foes alike -- that the world CANNOT depend on the US for security, moral leadership, or even to answer when called upon where it is obligated (NATO). In short, the world is moving on from the US, and the US will soon be just another nation and trading partner. One among many.
This such a bogus thread. Trump is increasing military spending and look at what he is doing for our ally in Korea.
More liberal hysteria.
This such a bogus thread. Trump is increasing military spending and look at what he is doing for our ally in Korea.
Trump has gutted the State Department (soft power) in favor of military spending (hard power). Which sounds good to the CHUDs, but in reality means that America is spending far more for much, much less.
It's the daily Trump hysteria lol.
Forcing other countries to pay for their own military defense is common sense [like someone said] and it should have happened decades ago. It's less of a burden on the US taxpayer and it's only *fair*; and since the left is obsessed with fairness, they should like it.
What we need to be wary of are power vacuums. Like what Obama left in the Middle East. The OP has nothing to do with that.
What I see is other countries moving on because they can no longer depend on the US for leadership. Certainly not moral, certainly not environmental, and there is only a tentative commitment to NATO or to intercede when another ally calls. Trump just attacked the mayor of London in the aftermath of a terrorist incident. Imagine if someone did that to Giuliani during 9/11.
This damage cannot be repaired easily, if at all.
I recall liberals used to NOT want us to be the world's policeman.