Valerie Percival is an associate professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. Shawn Barber is a former career foreign service officer and ambassador.
Canada has assumed the G7 presidency at a perilous moment for the world. Donald Trump’s aggressive “America First” agenda has replaced diplomacy with coercion, putting the global order at risk. In his zero-sum world view, the United States can only become “safer, stronger and more prosperous” at the expense of others. Now is the time for Canada to bring together its other G7 partners and like-minded democracies to defend the global institutions, laws and norms that underpin international stability and prosperity.
For decades the United States was the guarantor of the liberal international order. But no longer. After only a month in office, Mr. Trump has threatened the economies and sovereignty of allies, scaled back critical U.S. foreign aid, rekindled his bromance with Vladimir Putin and signalled his ambivalence toward the NATO alliance and European security. His withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) exemplifies his rejection of collective global action. And it sends a warning shot to Canada’s G7 presidency.
This comes at a time when the world faces multiple and overlapping threats of unprecedented scope. Democracy is in retreat, authoritarianism is rising and violent conflicts have reached levels not seen since the Second World War, triggering protracted humanitarian crises and record levels of forced displacement. Climate change, economic disruptions, transboundary health risks, declining institutional trust and political polarization further exacerbate global instability. No country can tackle these challenges alone.
Enter the G7 – or perhaps the G6. The G7 is not a formal institution but has unparalleled convening power, global reach and a record of mobilizing political will and financial resources in a time of crisis. It helped end the Kosovo War, catalyzed US$100-billion in debt relief for impoverished nations and saved millions of lives through HIV/AIDS and maternal health initiatives.
Facing a newly belligerent and threatening America, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announced priorities for our G7 presidency – building inclusive economies, climate action and managing rapidly evolving technologies – require an urgent reset. The next prime minister must expand Canada’s G7 agenda in scope and ambition with concrete and bold commitments on international trade, development, global health and peace and security.
A new G7-led multilateral trade resilience framework should seek to strengthen supply chain partnerships to reduce reliance on protectionist economies and provide a co-ordinated approach to counter disruptive tariffs and economic bullying tactics.
A renewed G7 commitment to global health and development must offset U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, cuts to foreign aid and restrictions on reproductive health services. While H5N1 (the bird flu) spreads, the world is unprepared for another pandemic. The G7 must reinforce its commitments to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – a G7 creation – and to WHO’s pandemic preparedness efforts. Canada must continue to press for global commitments on gender equality, including comprehensive reproductive health services.
Deadly conflicts persist in Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Gaza and Syria, precarious efforts to emerge from conflict face strong headwinds. The G7 must actively back regional and multilateral peace processes with enhanced financial and technical resources.
Support for Ukraine remains paramount. The G7 must ensure Ukraine plays a central role in any settlement negotiations with Russia. Canada should continue to advocate for expanded economic support and credible security guarantees without concessions that risk undermining Ukraine’s future.
Securing consensus at the Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., this June will be difficult. Mr. Trump will act as a spoiler and seek to disrupt any agreement, exploiting G7 members’ divergent economic interests. Already, we’ve seen U.S. objections to language in a G7 statement that rightly described Russia as the aggressor in its war with Ukraine.
We cannot undermine our core principles to appease a recalcitrant U.S. President. Instead, Canada must seize this moment to build consensus for a pragmatic yet ambitious framework for G7 action in these critical areas. To broaden its impact, Canada should collaborate with South Africa, the current G20 president, and engage with other emerging economies that share democratic values and a commitment to a stable international order. By rallying our like-minded, democratic allies, Canada can help ensure that global co-operation remains resilient, inclusive and forward-looking.
Global leadership now demands bold action, strategic coalition-building and an unwavering commitment to multilateralism – values that Canada has long defended on the world stage. With its G7 presidency, Canada has a unique opportunity – and obligation – to stand up for the rules-based international system. It is only through this system that countries can both protect their national interests and work toward peace and prosperity throughout the world.