What does Trudeau’s UN visit suggest about his future?
A change of heart? Or a fond farewell?
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In peace,
Steve
Former diplomat and retired Senator Douglas Roche couldn’t help but notice there was a spring in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s step at the United Nations last week. “Suddenly, there he was all over the United Nations,” Roche wrote in the influential Hill Times.
It might make one wonder whether the PM’s sudden interest in the UN might suggest he is nearing the end of his time in politics?
Yes, I know I might be reaching a bit, but plenty of political leaders have experienced an 11th-hour conversion to the importance of foreign policy when their careers are winding down.
Trudeau’s packed agenda included a speech at the UN’s Summit of the Future, meetings with leaders like Haiti’s prime minister and co-hosting discussions on education, climate change, and gender equality.
He also had private sessions with notable figures, including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and was awarded Ukraine’s Order of Freedom by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trudeau's renewed energy toward U.N. initiatives was notable, especially compared to his earlier rhetoric from 2015 when he declared “Canada is back,” while our contributions to peacekeeping and international development fell short.
This time he rose to the occasion, emphasizing that the world is at a critical juncture and must collaborate to address global challenges. His speech at the summit, though brief, called for collective responsibility to safeguard future generations.
Trudeau's renewed energy toward U.N. initiatives was notable, especially compared to his earlier rhetoric from 2015.
Trudeau’s efforts also extended to poverty reduction, where he met with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley to discuss reforms in global financial systems that impact vulnerable nations. He also focused on restoring order in Haiti, with Canada prioritizing the strengthening of the Haitian police force.
The summit's outcome document, "The Pact for the Future," outlined critical action points on sustainable development, peace, security, and global governance, though progress is challenged by international conflict. Despite Russia’s attempt to derail the pact, it was approved by a significant majority, signaling a tentative path forward for U.N. reforms.
“You couldn’t stop Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he got to New York City last week. He even bounded across Manhattan to the CBS studios for an encounter with late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert,” Roche noted.
Justin Trudeau appeared to be enjoying himself on the show. “You have to be fundamentally hopeful,” he told Colbert. “If you don’t believe you can make a positive difference, you’re not in the right line of work.” The studio audience applauded loudly.
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Thank you for everything you do for peace.
Steve
Sometimes i cannot tell whether this newsletter is truly for peace or some sort of limited hangout designed to divert people from important truths.
Trudeau received a medal from Zelenskyy? This is not a positive thing. The war in Ukraine is entirely a product of US meddling since the Cold War ended. Especially after the coup in 2014 when the puppet neo-Nazi regime quickly polarized the country and started bombing ethnic Russians, aiming to join NATO and implement US foreign policy to sell off the country's assets and start a proxy war to weaken Russia.
Trudeau talking with Haiti's puppet prime minister about increased policing is also not positive for peace. Canada was instrumental in the coup that toppled very popular president Aristide whose government was lifting the country out of poverty and attempting to decolonize. The (RCMP trained) police and (US+UN) military presence in Haiti since then has only fomented violence and repression and even disease. Surely you cannot have missed how much wealth was looted from the country and how much local business and agriculture was destroyed since Aristide was overthrown due to refusing to pay France reparations for getting out of slavery.
Finally, Barbados is another country of the global South which is on the fence about financial policies and development. The last thing it needs is to move toward the IMF's destructive austerity programs; rather it should be aiming to partner with Chinese infrastructure development which is not tied to any sort of regressive social "reforms" and military blocs.
His father Pierre Trudeau's peace tour to Asia, Europe and the US in 1983 came to mind. Remember when Ronnie Reagan wished him "Godspeed" in his efforts ? I think Justin had legacy in mind, whether or not he leaves before the next election.