Canada warns of a rupture in the global order

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said Saturday that the international order was undergoing a rupture rather than a transition during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Anand announced that Canada would increase its strategic autonomy and diversify its foreign-policy partnerships.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Anand says the international system is undergoing a rupture

In her speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said that the international system was undergoing a rupture rather than transitioning to a new era. Anand said major powers were moving away from economic cooperation and that challenges to state sovereignty were also increasing.

According to Anand, economic integration is fragmenting, while state sovereignty, one of the fundamental elements of the United Nations Charter, is frequently being disregarded. The Canadian foreign minister said these developments were reshaping global balances.

Ottawa will expand its strategic autonomy

Anand announced that Canada would reduce its dependence on any single partner and pursue greater strategic autonomy. She said Ottawa would strengthen ties with existing partners while establishing new partnerships.

Anand said issue-based coalitions would be formed with small states, middle powers and major powers to develop solutions to common problems. She added that Canada would continue working to strengthen the multilateral system more broadly. She said Canada would work with other middle powers to help shape the emerging international order.

Anand described Canada’s approach as “values-based realism.” Saying that some countries had chosen to withdraw from international engagement by building higher walls, Anand said Canada believed long-term partnerships were the way to achieve prosperity and security.

Canada’s regional agenda

Anand also outlined Canada’s foreign-policy priorities, announcing that support for Ukraine and NATO would continue. She said ties with Europe would be strengthened and cooperation with partners in the Arctic would be increased.

Anand said Canada would maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific. The Canadian foreign minister said economic relations with India and China would be deepened, new opportunities would be sought in the Gulf and Latin America, and trade ties with Africa would be expanded.

Anand said she welcomed preparations for elections in Haiti and noted that security problems in the country persisted. Condemning Iran’s regional activities, Anand said Tehran must never acquire nuclear weapons.

Emphasis on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine

Anand said the Israeli and Palestinian peoples had the right to self-determination and reaffirmed her support for a negotiated two-state solution.

Describing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as contrary to international law and an obstacle to peace, Anand recalled Canada’s decision to restrict trade in products originating from Israeli settlements.

Israeli army attacks in the West Bank have intensified since the war in the Gaza Strip began in October 2023. According to Palestinian sources, at least 1,206 Palestinians, including 254 children, were killed during this period, approximately 13,350 people were injured and more than 24,600 people were detained.

The United Nations has repeatedly emphasized that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories violate international law. The organization has warned that these settlements undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.