Jennifer Welsh on Canada's new foreign policy moment | The Herle Burly Podcast

September 5, 2026 | Jennifer Welsh spoke to David Herle and Colin Robertson on Canada’s evolving role in the international order, as the current U.S. administration increasingly strains relationships with Western allies.

Welsh argues that Canada, along with many European countries and Australia, is seeking to reduce its vulnerability and dependence on the United States as the Trump administration's actions unravel the alliances and institutions that have underpinned the Western world since 1945. She contends that China has emerged as a key beneficiary of this shift, strengthening its global standing and soft power through investments in international institutions such as the United Nations. The United States, on the other hand, is seemingly retreating from its longstanding commitment to multilateralism and democratic values.

Welsh also discusses Mark Carney's concept of “variable geometry” with her fellow presenters, which refers to a system in which countries build flexible alliances around specific issues. Welsh notes that the Carney government has yet to explain how this approach would align with Canada’s existing legacy institutions or address global challenges such as climate change and migration.