Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly traveled to Washington, DC this week, a trip aimed at reinforcing Canada’s close ties with the United States amidst shifting global dynamics and heightened geopolitical tensions.

While in Washington, Joly met with a cross-section of US lawmakers, including Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Lisa Murkowski, and Rick Scott, and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwella. The discussions reportedly focused on trade, investment, and military cooperation — key pillars of the Canada-US relationship, which saw bilateral trade exceed $1.3 trillion in 2023.

The trip comes two years after Joly unveiled Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, a $2.2-billion initiative designed to enhance trade, military presence, and diplomatic engagement in the world’s fastest-growing economic region. The strategy, which highlights growing tensions with China, mirrors Washington’s Indo-Pacific priorities and underscores Canada’s alignment with US foreign policy objectives.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland affirmed on Tuesday that Ottawa remains committed to aligning with US policy on China, particularly in matters of trade.

Joly’s Washington visit also featured a round-table discussion on Arctic security, an issue of shared interest given the region’s rising geopolitical importance and resource potential.

“Canada and the United States have the world’s most successful partnership, united by a shared history, common values and enduring people-to-people ties,” Joly said in a statement. She emphasized the importance of cooperation in addressing global challenges and safeguarding the “rules-based international order.”

The timing of Joly’s visit is significant, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January. This makes her the first Canadian Cabinet member to engage directly with allies of the incoming administration, making the escapade an opportunity to reaffirm Canada’s allegiance to Washington amid changing US leadership and escalating Sino-American tensions.

Regional Impacts

The ripple effects of Canada’s federal priorities are evident at the provincial level as well. Last year, BC Premier David Eby led a trade mission to Asia, building on federal initiatives to diversify trade and reduce reliance on China. While provincial officials touted the mission as a step toward strengthening supply chains and fostering economic resilience, skeptics question its outcome. They highlight a study suggesting limited tangible benefits from trade missions, raising the possibility that such efforts may be more about signaling allegiance to top-down geopolitical interests than achieving meaningful trade gains.

Confronting Geopolitical Realities

Canada’s increased attention to the Indo-Pacific mirrors the actions of other Western nations in response to rising global tensions, particularly those involving China. Joly has previously characterized China as an “increasingly disruptive global power,” echoing sentiments from US officials. Both countries’ policies emphasize bolstering military presence in the South China Sea and redirecting trade relationships to mitigate the “disruptive power.”

It is also worth noting that Joly’s Indo-Pacific Strategy was released one month after United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Canada to meet with the minister. The 26-page document mentions China more than 50 times.

As mentioned, Freeland recently reiterated Canada’s alignment with the US on trade and security, emphasizing vigilance against Chinese practices that she says undermine North American markets.

Freeland’s criticism of Chinese practices that undermine North American markets reveals a double standard, given the US's history of similar actions. Sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba have devastated economies by restricting market access. Financial interventions during crises like the Asian Financial Crisis and Argentina’s debt collapse imposed austerity measures that worsened local conditions while benefiting US interests. Trade wars, including those with China, disrupted global supply chains in ways reminiscent of the practices Canada condemns. US-backed coups in Iran and Guatemala further destabilized economies to secure control over vital industries like oil and agriculture.

While Ottawa touts its commitment to a "rules-based international order," its unquestioning allegiance to Washington raises questions about the consistency of its principles.