Written By David Gomez
The recent G7 Summit in Alberta was marked by two opposing forces: opportunity and abandonment. As host, Canada found itself at the intersection of global urgency and fractured partnerships. While this country used the platform to secure promising trade and security dialogues with France, Japan, and the EU, it was hard to ignore the shadow cast by U.S. President Donald Trump’s early departure—a symbolic gesture that speaks louder than any official statement.
Canada is at a crossroads. With the United States growing increasingly unpredictable under Trump’s “America First” agenda, our traditional reliance on our southern neighbour becomes increasingly risky.
Trade tensions, weakened cooperation, and inconsistent commitments from Washington have all created a diplomatic vacuum. And Trump’s escalating involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict only deepens global instability, further isolating the U.S. from its long-time allies.
Yet, this turbulence also presents a strategic opening. Canada has never had a better reason—or moment—to strengthen bonds with other powers that share our democratic values and commitment to multilateralism. The summit’s discussions around critical minerals, AI, and defence cooperation with partners like Japan and the EU show that we are no longer tied to a single alliance. Instead, we are building a wider, more diversified network that may well define our future.
But to succeed, we must also be clear-eyed about the kind of international actor we aspire to be. This means resisting the global rise of nationalism—a force that often disguises itself as patriotism but works to divide rather than unite. While pride in one’s country can be a healthy force, nationalism tends to stifle diplomacy and erode the foundations of democratic cooperation.
That is a conversation we must continue. For now, let this summit serve as a call: Canada must step forward—not as a backup plan, but as a reliable and visionary leader in an increasingly fractured world.
