Political Editorial Opinion
Mark Carney’s speech at Davos five weeks ago, was a bellwether event for middle powers like Canada. His subsequent intention and actions, to begin to have other middle powers to band together and build a counter-balance and resistance against American pressure has begun. It has become requisite for middle powers now, as the larger power contest for primacy between the US and China is in evidence.
It is absolutely necessary for most democratic middle powers, in order to counter US actions, specifically those designed to purposefully isolate nations that America can then cut out of the ‘pack of nations’, like an international cowboy, designed specifically in order to then attack or threaten that particular nation.
And because of these actions by America, the US is no longer a trusted democracy. It now intentionally isolates nations economically so that it can then influence their decisions, alliances, determinations and actions, or pay a ‘toll’ for the temerity of maintaining or at least intending its autonomy of action.
America is no longer interested in being a nation among nations. It has become a hegemonic thief on the international stage. And as such, its only interest in other nations is to maximize power and economic control over those nations. America’s strategic plan is to ensure that no other nations can foster collaboration or cooperation in a just and peaceful league or aggregation of like-minded nations, that in any way lessens America’s ability to control them.
Trump doesn’t even care, if nations possess any democratic institutions. His sole interest is in taking, by any means, what is most valuable in terms of his ‘personal’ wealth.
“National Interest” is simply a convenient lie, — and nothing else.
It’s purely Trump first.
Canada’s Future
Fortunately, Canada now has a leader who is intelligent, focused and rational. Unfortunately, he also has to interact with an American administration that is almost the polar opposite. Trump and his cohort of ignorance, are only interested in the most simplistic and self-interested objectives in relation to the acquisition of wealth, and in maintaining their power and position within the United States, while at the same time suppressing other nations of lesser power, especially militarily through the use of threats and economic damage and deprivation.
The US has clearly stated that its goals are in enriching themselves, while lying to the American people that their ability to extort other nations through trade tariffs or outright theft, as in Venezuela, will provide ‘benefits’ to Americans.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
And while Americans sit idly and timidly hoping that no one takes away their rights, their opportunities and their futures, they are watching that being done to the ‘others’.
And by so doing, America is excavating a hole for itself that will become cavernous over time as its former allies, partners and friends, become America’s enemies.
Yes, enemies.
So far, all that the current administration has accomplished is to drive every former ally, friend and neighbour away.
And this isn’t simply about one neighbour, one former ally or partner.
It’s about ALL of them.
Canada’s diversification has begun and it will continue and grown. It has decided that America is no longer to be trusted or enabled in any way. Canada’s relationships now focus on the development of a Global Trade Organization, designed specifically to exclude the United States from either entry or any and all influence on it.
This Is Also Canada’s Fault: We Accept That. We trusted the US.
Canada for at least the last 50 years has ‘enabled’ the US to be in a position whereby all that it would take to exploit Canada was a dishonest, unethical and unprincipled American President, willing and able to exploit weakness. That weakness was that Canada, foolishly obviously, trusted the US, its people and its corporations with the belief that America’s ambitions would always remain ethical, honest and democratic, in both its objectives as well as its aims through its institutions.
This has been an obvious mistake. One that will cost Canadians an appreciable amount in relation to its ability to act independently and to foster new trade and institutional relationships with other actual democratic nations in order to oppose and counter the ‘new’ and hegemonic interests of the United States.
It is now an action that Canada and Canadians are wholly committed to.
Diversification and New Alliances
Stabbing a former ally and partner in the back, is likely not a strategy for any future growth and collaboration in relation to any field of endeavour.
And so it is that Canada has, in one year inked 15 new agreements with other nations and international trade organizations. And while this is exceptional, it takes substantive amounts of time for a nation to build on and expand these new relationships, enabling trust and growth in terms of experience and the relationships that enhance both partners, nations or trade groups.
But, we in Canada know that it will grow over time, and the reason is simple. First, Canada has what the world needs. Second, unlike the US, Canada is also known as an honest and trustworthy partner, ally and broker of opportunities for the future.
And those opportunities are now being created, fostered and exercised.
So rather than seek membership in what was, or what still remains, (like the WTO, essentially under the control of American interests), Canada has decided to bridge these international organizational trade associations or bodies, such that they have provide for a greater opportunity to develop balance and growth that improves the economic forecasts and future of all of the new organization’s membership.
This collaborative approach to trade is intended to build a counterweight to the zero-sum game that the United States wants to employ, which entails the forcing of former allies and friends to ‘bow down and kiss the ring’ of the new self-absorbed King of Thievery and Self-Interest.
Unlike BRICS, which is an amalgam of nations with highly competitive and uncomplimentary interests, Carney’s plan is to bring together those countries and bodies to which they already belong that are truly ‘relational’ and democratic, not transactional and autocratic under the umbrella of a new organization.
And, while, for those that do belong to BRICS, membership, offers ‘apparent access to a fairly large market’, access to that market is dictated to some degree by the nature of those leaders and their constituent beliefs. Russia is Imperialistic and actively seeking to invade and take over other nations in Europe. And while China is a formidable power, it too has aspirations to bring Taiwan back into its fold, by force of arms if necessary.
It is obvious that BRICS is intent on de-dollarization and implementing a counter to the economic strength of the G7, as BRICS now represents more than quarter of the world’s GDP and half of the world’s population. However, its interests other than those noted, are somewhat disparate, and act not as a formal entity, but more informally, designed in opposition to US global dominance and its interests.
However, America’s actions over the last year have had a profound influence on nations that once were aligned and allied with America interests.
That reality has been shattered by Donald Trump.
America, now faces opposition on a global scale. And America only represents 10-12% of global trade, which can be isolated based on its hegemonic behaviour.
Middle power cooperation, in the past, has been difficult to gain, however, America’s actions have made the threat real. As a collective of interests that seek to protect themselves against two powerful blocs, and one other that is hell-bent on Imperialism at any cost, including going to war(s), there is an actual opportunity for middle power cooperation and collaboration to effectively create a ‘third way’, a multipolar framework for collective interests to thrive.
And this action will not solely be economic.
Militarily, the world’s democracies can no longer trust either China, Russia or the United States of America.
This group of middle nations, will of course oppose and will continue to oppose Russia and North Korea, while attempting to walk a line between Chinese influence and American pressure.
Therefore Mark Carney’s actions as the Prime Minister of Canada, to counter American pressure by brokering a more cooperative relationship with China, — that while not collaboration, clearly delineates what is the growing rift between Canada, or as Carney has stated, a rupture will continue. And like any rupture, it now requires Canada to find a new path, one more strategic, one more relational with new and emerging economies that is less focused on ideology and more on collective trade and economic resiliency and sustainability.
The New Era
The world has embarked on a departure that opens both opportunities and new unwanted threats from a nation that once used to be a broker of truth and respect for democracy and its institutions.
No more.
That nation no longer exists.
In return, nations that eschew autocracy, and that believe in collective interests, are finding new ways to interact and to plan in concert, going forward.
Canada will still trade with the United States, but only when it is in its interest. Canada no longer accepts and it will no longer be subjugated to American control or American interests.
America has clearly chosen a future where America will boldly return to a form of governance that it has not had since the end of the eighteenth century. One of Imperial Interest, one of domination tinged with autocratic control and kleptocratic goals. Those goals are dictated by a minority of America’s population, but remain determined to ‘mine’ the world’s resources for the personal profit of its plutocrats and kleptocrats.
It has yet to be seen if the American public will align with what is no longer democratic interests but purely a self-absorbed, self-interested, kleptocracy whose profits are driven by greed and backed by what appear to be completely illegal military actions.
Americans will pay a huge price in the years to come for their adherence to autocracy.
And, if nothing changes, then America will simply become and be known for what it now appears to be, an unprincipled, self-absorbed, greedy and deeply unethical and immoral country.
No More Illusions
To the rest of the world, America is no longer great. America, isn’t even, good. It is no different than many other nations before it that placed power and greed above any interest in attempting to do what is deemed as ethical, moral or simply — ‘right’.
And the hypocrisy is so blatant, so clearly evident, that it is obvious to all throughout the world.
So, as the US continues to validate and verifies its xenophobia, greed and willingness to oppress all others in the eyes of the world, then America will simply be the enemy.
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