Donald Trump’s “art of the deal” has failed spectacularly with one of our closest, biggest allies and trading partners. If the standing ovation Canada’s Mark Carney received after his speech is any guide, this is just the beginning of the U.S. losing world standing and power.
Carney never mentioned Trump by name but the essence of the speech was that Trump is the United States now and that countries must stop trying to wait him out in the hope that things will go back to the way they were or in the delusion that the U.S. is a decent, moral partner.
The prime minister suggested that the U.S. was never the principled actor it pretended to be but that Canada went along because “American hegemony” benefitted Canada financially and politically.
“This bargain no longer works,” Carney said, in case anyone had a doubt about who or what he is breaking with. “Let me be direct: we are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.” He described the “economic integration” of the U.S. and Canada as an effort to subordinate his country. “Many countries are drawing the same conclusions,” he said.
Carney went on to argue that the best way to adapt to “this new reality” is for other “middle powers” to join Canada in living its values and “prioritizing broad engagement” with other countries. In other words, he called for other countries to join together for greater power against the odious policies ofTrump and the U.S.
