Foreign relations of Canada

The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and nations. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in global affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral and international solutions. Canada is known for its strong commitment to international peace and security, as well as being a mediator in conflicts, and for providing aid to developing countries. The "golden age of Canadian diplomacy" refers to a period in Canadian history, typically considered to be the mid-20th century, when Canada experienced a high level of success in its foreign relations and diplomatic efforts.

Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century has played a major role in its positive global image. Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations. Since the 21st century, Canadian direct participation in UN peacekeeping efforts has greatly declined. The large decrease was a result of Canada directing its participation to UN-sanctioned military operations through NATO, rather than directly through the UN. Canada has faced controversy over its involvement in some foreign countries, notably the 1993 Somalia affair. Canada's military currently has over 3000 personnel deployed overseas in multiple operations.

Canada and the United States have a long, complex, and intertwined relationship; they are close allies, co-operating regularly on military campaigns and humanitarian efforts. Canada also maintains historic and traditional ties to the United Kingdom and to France, along with both countries' former colonies through its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Canada is noted for having a positive relationship with the Netherlands, owing, in part, to its contribution to the Dutch liberation during World War II. Canada has diplomatic and consular offices in over 270 locations in approximately 180 foreign countries.

Canada is a member of various international organizations and forums. Canada was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and formed the North American Aerospace Defense Command together with the United States in 1958. The country has membership in the World Trade Organization, the Five Eyes, the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Canada acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. The country joined the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1990, and seeks to expand its ties to Pacific Rim economies through membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). As of 2023, Canada is a signatory to 15 free trade agreements with 51 different countries.

Administration
In 1982, responsibility for trade was added with the creation of the Department of External Affairs and International Trade. In 1995, the name was changed to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Canada has often carried out its foreign policy through coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous federal institutions (e.g.: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police International Peace Operations Branch or deployments of personnel by the Correctional Service of Canada ). Under the aegis of Canadian foreign policy, various departments and agencies conduct their own international relations and outreach activities. For example, the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence conduct defence diplomacy in support of national interests, including through the deployment of Canadian Defence Attachés, participation in bilateral and multilateral military forums (e.g., the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces), ship and aircraft visits, military training and cooperation, and other such outreach and relationship-building efforts.

There are two major elements of Canadian foreign relations, Canada-US relations and multilateralism.

Greg Donaghy, of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, argues:
 * Since taking power in 2006, Prime Minister Harper's government has clearly abandoned the liberal internationalism that had so often characterized Ottawa's approach to world affairs, replacing it with a new emphasis on realist notions of national interest, enhanced capabilities, and Western democratic values.

Canada's international relations are the responsibility of the Department of Global Affairs, which is run by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position currently held by Melanie Joly. Traditionally the Prime Minister has played a prominent role in foreign affairs decisions. Foreign aid, formerly delivered through the Canadian International Development Agency, has been administered by DFATD since March 2013.

Foreign aid
Canada's foreign aid was administered by the Canadian International Development Agency, which provided aid and assistance to other countries around the world through various methods. In March 2013 CIDA ceased to exist when it was folded into DFAIT, creating DFATD. The strategy of the Canadian government's foreign aid policy reflects an emphasis to meet the Millennium Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign humanitarian crises. However a growing focus on development, defence, and diplomacy in recent decades has produced a concentration of foreign aid funding to countries determined to be security risks to Canadian policy. For example, in 2004–2005 the largest recipients of Canada's official developmental assistance were Afghanistan and Iraq, two nations in conflict with the United States of America and its allies at the time. The structural emphasis on security and industry development has contributed to a fixed foreign policy that generally fails to consider global health and international social and economic inequalities. According to the OECD, 2019 official development assistance from Canada increased 0.5% to US$4.7 billion.

In addition, although Canada's foreign aid policies has been moulded with the intentions to be in accordance to the Millennium Development Goals, its focus on human security has slowly shifted away as new policy developments arose. The foreign aid provided by the country became less "people-centered" and less health-related. Canada's contributions have been quite inconsistent with regards to human security, which indicates that the reputation that the country has built throughout the years, in fact, exceeds the country's actual record. Canada's contributions internationally have been detrimental and crucial but it needs redirecting back to its original goals.

Federalism and foreign relations
The provinces have a high level of freedom to operate internationally, dating to 1886 and Quebec's first representative to France, Hector Fabre. Alberta has had representatives abroad, starting with Alberta House in London (37 Hill Street), since 1948, and British Columbia around 25 years before that. By 1984, Quebec had offices in ten countries including eight in the United States and three in other Canadian provinces while Ontario had thirteen delegations in seven countries.

Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Canada maintains diplomatic relations with:

Other bilateral and plurilateral relations
One important difference between Canadian and American foreign policy has been in relations with communist governments. Canada established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (13 October 1970) long before the Americans did (1 January 1979). It also has maintained trade and diplomatic relations with communist Cuba, despite pressures from the United States.

Arms Control
Canadian Government guidance for export controls on weapons systems is published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Automatic Firearms Country Control List, comprises a list of approved export nations which include as of 2014; (Albania, Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States).

Selected dates of diplomatic representation abroad

 * Australia – 1939 – first high commissioner Charles Burchell
 * Belgium – January 1939 – first ambassador Jean Désy
 * China – 1943 – first ambassador General Victor Odlum
 * France – 1882 – agent without diplomatic status Hector Fabre
 * France – 1928 – first minister Philippe Roy
 * France – 1944 – first ambassador George Philias Vanier
 * International Criminal Court – 2003 – first Judge-President Philippe Kirsch
 * Japan – May 1929 – first minister Sir Herbert Marler
 * Mexico – January 1944 – first ambassador William Ferdinand Alphonse Turgeon
 * Netherlands – January 1939 – first ambassador Jean Désy
 * Newfoundland – 1941 – first high commissioner Charles Burchell
 * United Kingdom – 1880 – first high commissioner Sir Alexander Galt
 * United Nations – first ambassador General Andrew McNaughton
 * United States of America – 1926 – first minister Vincent Massey

Multilateralism
Canada is and has been a strong supporter of multilateralism. The country is one of the world's leading peacekeepers, sending soldiers under the U.N. authority around the world. Canadian former Minister of Foreign Affairs and subsequent Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, is credited for his contributions to modern international peacekeeping, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. Canada is committed to disarmament, and is especially noted for its leadership in the 1997 Convention in Ottawa on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines.

In the last century Canada has made efforts to reach out to the rest of the world and promoting itself as a "middle power" able to work with large and small nations alike. This was demonstrated during the Suez Crisis when Lester B. Pearson mollified the tension by proposing peacekeeping efforts and the inception of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force. In that spirit, Canada developed and has tried to maintain a leading role in UN peacekeeping efforts.

Canada has long been reluctant to participate in military operations that are not sanctioned by the United Nations, such as the Vietnam War or the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, but does join in sanctioned operations such as the first Gulf War, Afghanistan and Libya. It participated with its NATO and OAS allies in the Kosovo Conflict and in Haiti respectively.

Despite Canada's track record as a liberal democracy that has embraced the values of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Canada has not been involved in any major plan for Reform of the United Nations Security Council; although the Canadian government does support UN reform, in order to strengthen UN efficiency and effectiveness.

Canada hosted the third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City.

Canada is working on setting up military bases around the world, while reducing aid and diplomatic efforts. In the late 90s, Canada actively promoted the notion of human security as an alternative to business-as-usual approaches to foreign aid. However, by invoking the "three Ds" (defense, diplomacy, and development) as the fundamental basis for Canadian foreign policy, and then implementing this in a manner that conforms more to military security and trade interests, Canada has successfully distanced itself from the humanitarian objectives of foreign aid, with the human security goal far from being achieved. Under the Harper government, emphasis on promoting Canada's military presence internationally has included an effort to rebrand Canada historically as a "warrior nation", in large measure to counter the image of only supporting peacekeeping and multilateralism.

Canada’s relations within the Americas
Canada joined the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1990 and has been an active member, hosting the OAS General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario, in June 2000.

Canada–Caribbean relations
Many Caribbean Community countries turn to Canada as a valued partner. Canadians, particularly Canadian banks and utility companies play an important economic role in the development of former British West Indies colonies. Efforts to improve trade have included the idea of concluding a free trade agreement to replace the 1986 bilateral CARIBCAN agreement. At various times, several Caribbean countries have also considered joining Canadian Confederation as new provinces or territories, although no Caribbean nation has implemented such a proposal. Note that many Caribbean countries are also involved in the Commonwealth of Nations, below.

Canada–Commonwealth of Nations
Canada maintains close links to the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, with which Canada has strong historic ties and shares a monarch. It also remains a member of the Commonwealth.

Canada–Europe and Canada–European Union relations
Canada is an active participant in discussions stemming from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Two overseas territories of EU members, Greenland (Denmark) and Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) lie adjacent to Canadian territorial waters.

International organizations
Canada is a member of the following organizations:


 * Asian Development Bank (ADB) (nonregional member)
 * African Development Bank (AfDB) (nonregional member)
 * Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
 * Arctic Council
 * ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
 * Association of Caribbean States (ACS) (observer and partner)
 * Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (dialogue partner)
 * Australia Group
 * Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
 * Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) (nonregional member)
 * Caribbean Postal Union (CPU)
 * Commonwealth of Nations
 * Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)
 * European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
 * Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
 * Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
 * Group of Seven (G7) –
 * Group of Eight (G8)
 * Group of Ten (G-10)
 * Group of Twenty (G-20)
 * Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
 * International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
 * International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) (also known as the World Bank)
 * International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
 * International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
 * International Criminal Court (ICCt)
 * International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)
 * International Development Association (IDA)
 * International Energy Agency (IEA)
 * International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
 * International Finance Corporation (IFC)
 * International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
 * International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
 * International Labour Organization (ILO)
 * International Monetary Fund (IMF)
 * International Maritime Organization (IMO)
 * International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
 * Interpol (organization) (Interpol)
 * International Olympic Committee (IOC)
 * International Organization for Migration (IOM)
 * Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
 * International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
 * International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
 * International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
 * International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
 * Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
 * MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti)
 * MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
 * North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 * North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
 * Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
 * Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
 * Organization of American States (OAS)
 * Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
 * Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)
 * Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
 * Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
 * Paris Club
 * ParlAmericas
 * Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
 * Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) (partner)
 * Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal
 * Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) (observer)
 * United Nations (UN)
 * United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
 * United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
 * United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
 * United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
 * United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
 * United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
 * United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS)
 * United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
 * United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
 * World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
 * Universal Postal Union (UPU)
 * World Customs Organization (WCO)
 * World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
 * World Health Organization (WHO)
 * World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
 * World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
 * World Trade Organization (WTO)
 * Zangger Committee

Organizations with headquarters in Canada

 * International Air Transport Association
 * Flag of ICAO.svg International Civil Aviation Organization
 * Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
 * North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission
 * United Nations Association in Canada

Major treaties signed in Canada

 * Ottawa Treaty or Mine Ban Treaty (1997)
 * Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
 * Great Peace of Montreal (1701)

Territorial and boundary disputes
Canada and the United States have negotiated the boundary between the countries over many years, with the last significant agreement having taken place in 1984 when the International Court of Justice ruled on the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Maine. Likewise, Canada and France had previously contested the maritime boundary surrounding the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, but accepted a 1992 International Court of Arbitration ruling.

Remaining disputes include managed maritime boundary disputes with the US (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island).

Arctic disputes
A long-simmering dispute between Canada and the U.S. involves the issue of Canadian sovereignty over the Northwest Passage (the sea passages through the Arctic Archipelago). Canada's assertion that the Northwest Passage represents internal (territorial) waters has been challenged by other countries, especially the U.S., which argue that these waters constitute an international strait (international waters). Canadians were incensed when Americans drove the reinforced oil tanker Manhattan through the Northwest Passage in 1969, followed by the icebreaker Polar Sea in 1985, both without asking for Canadian permission. In 1970, the Canadian government enacted the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, which asserts Canadian regulatory control over pollution within a 100 nmi zone. In response, the Americans in 1970 stated, "We cannot accept the assertion of a Canadian claim that the Arctic waters are internal waters of Canada.... Such acceptance would jeopardize the freedom of navigation essential for United States naval activities worldwide." A compromise was reached in 1988, by an agreement on "Arctic Cooperation," which pledges that voyages of American icebreakers "will be undertaken with the consent of the Government of Canada." However the agreement did not alter either country's basic legal position. Essentially, the Americans agreed to ask for the consent of the Government of Canada without conceding that they were obliged to. In January 2006, David Wilkins, the American ambassador to Canada, said his government opposes Stephen Harper's proposed plan to deploy military icebreakers in the Arctic to detect interlopers and assert Canadian sovereignty over those waters.

Along with other nations in the Arctic Council, Canada, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Russia, the maritime boundaries in the far north will be decided after countries have completed their submissions, due in 2012. Russia has made an extensive claim based on the Russian position that everything that is an extension of the Lomonosov Ridge should be assigned to Russia. Their submission had been rejected when first submitted by the United Nations in 2001.

In June 2019, the U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said the US "view Canada’s claim that the waters of the Northwest Passage are internal waters of Canada as inconsistent with international law."