The federal government today unveiled Canada’s long-awaited strategy for the Indo-Pacific, which initially calls for an investment of nearly $2.3 billion in the region over the next five years. The central principle of the strategy consists of “acting in the interests of Canada, while defending our values,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced from the outset.
The roadmap is structured around five main objectives, presented by Minister Joly, Minister of International Development, Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng, as well as Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino , in Vancouver.
The first is to increase Canada’s military presence in the region, which will translate into an investment of $492.9 million to strengthen Canada’s naval presence in the Indo-Pacific and increase the Canadian Armed Forces’ participation in regional military exercises.
China is “an increasingly disruptive global power,” which “actively seeks to reinterpret these rules to greater advantage,” according to the strategic plan.
Another envelope of $47.3 million will be earmarked for the launch of a new interdepartmental initiative to strengthen cybersecurity capacities.
“The Indo-Pacific is critical to Canada’s future prosperity, and our secret weapon is our people,” said Ms.me Ng. This economic region is experiencing the fastest growth in the world and represents 65% of the world’s population, the nearly 30-page document reads. It alone is home to six of Canada’s 13 major trading partners.
In this sense, in order to increase trade and investment, Canada will also invest $240.6 million, of which $24.1 million will be used to create the Canadian Commercial Gateway in Southeast Asia. The government also wishes to establish Canada’s first agricultural office in the region in order to increase and diversify agricultural and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific and increase natural resource links with partners.
An investment of $100 million will be used to finance development programs related to the Feminist International Assistance Policy, in order to support the region’s development. Of the $261.7 million that will be provided to strengthen ties between Canadians and the peoples of the Indo-Pacific, $74.6 million will go towards strengthening Canada’s visa processing capacity within the centralized Canadian network, as well as than in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Islamabad and Manila.
Added to the list of numerous investments the federal government committed on Sunday are $913.3 million in the fight against climate change, as well as $143.3 million to strengthen Canada’s diplomatic presence in the Indo-Pacific. . A new office of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will notably be opened in the region.
While China is otherwise “inseparable” from the broader Indo-Pacific strategy, according to the Trudeau government, “India’s growing strategic, economic and demographic importance in the Indo-Pacific makes it an essential partner in the pursuit of Canada’s objectives,” the plan also reads.
More details will follow.