Trump presidency could mean murky future for Canada-Russia relations
Posted January 17, 2017 8:17 am.
Last Updated January 17, 2017 8:44 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Canada’s relationship with Russia could change drastically in the coming weeks, once Donald Trump is installed as the 45th President of the United States.
“[Trump’s presidency] creates a huge uncertainty for countries such as Canada. To what degree do we try to plan for a future where the United States and Russia are suddenly close allies?” wonders UBC Political Science Professor Michael Byers, adding there’s no way of knowing how a formally-friendly relationship between the US and Russia could impact us. “Donald Trump owes Russia or feels that he owes Russia. But certainly there is something there which has the potential to completely overturn Western-Russia relations.”
Then there’s Canada’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland. “Chrystia Freeland at the moment, is not allowed to travel to Russia,” says Byers. “The Russian government is quite perturbed by her appointment as foreign minister, because she has clearly and strongly expressed opinions with regards to their actions.”
A large part of that applies to Freeland’s outspoken views on the situation in Ukraine, where she has lived, has family and still owns a home. “The bigger issue though,” says Byers, “is whether the Russians will see her as a person with whom they can negotiate.”
He say that trepidation is because of Freeland’s vocal criticism of Vladimir Putin’s government.
