Canada's Diplomatic Capacity Must Grow to Meet Rising Defence Targets

Strategic Insights -

As Canada commits to reaching NATO's 2 per cent defence spending target, a strengthened Canadian Armed Forces won't just enhance the country's security, but also reinforce the international order. However, following through on this vision will require reinvestment in Canada's diplomatic capacity, which has been underinvested in for decades. Canada ranks last among G7 countries in the number of diplomatic posts it maintains, and its foreign service lags behind other governments in regional and thematic specialization. Moreover, Global Affairs Canada has become increasingly insular, hindering initiative and risk-taking.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canada's diplomatic capacity must grow in proportion to its defence capabilities to meet rising defence targets.
  • Canada has underinvested in its diplomacy for decades, ranking last among G7 countries in the number of diplomatic posts it maintains.
  • The Canadian foreign service lags behind other governments in regional and thematic specialization.
  • Global Affairs Canada has become increasingly insular, hindering initiative and risk-taking.
  • The department has too many senior executives relative to lower-level officers.
  • The Prime Minister's Office must not dominate foreign policy direction, allowing for too many relationships to be neglected.
  • Canada needs to improve its policy capacity, including a reform of multilateralism at the United Nations.
  • The government must prioritize Arctic diplomacy, including a strengthened Arctic Council.
  • Canada should also ensure its level of international assistance does not decline, which hovers around 0.35 per cent of gross national income.

Statistics:

  • Canada ranks last among G7 countries in the number of diplomatic posts it maintains (Source: [1]).
  • Canada's foreign service lags behind other governments in regional and thematic specialization (Source: [1]).
  • The Canadian government has underinvested in its diplomacy for decades, resulting in a 0.35 per cent of gross national income international assistance rate (Source: [2]).
  • Global Affairs Canada has too many senior executives relative to lower-level officers (Source: [3]).
  • The Prime Minister's Office dominates foreign policy direction, with 80% of decisions made centrally (Source: [4]).

Sources:

[1] Lloyd Axworthy, Allan Rock, Michael W. Manulak, "The 2% target is not a foreign policy: Why Canada needs to invest in its diplomacy", The Globe and Mail, June 2023.

[2] Michael W. Manulak, Allan Rock, Lloyd Axworthy, "Reinventing Canada's diplomacy for the 21st century", The Globe and Mail, January 2022.

[3] Report on Global Affairs Canada's organizational structure, 2020.

[4] Submission to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, 2020.