The Hill Times
LA MALBAIE, QUE.—Who will stand with Canada? That was the key question as the G7 top diplomats gathered for a second day in Quebec’s resort region of Charlevoix, Que. A show of support was seen through a maple leaf pin and a social media post, but an unequivocal statement in defence of Canada didn’t come.
The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting is taking place as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to put Canadian sovereignty in his cross hairs with frequent reference to absorbing Canada as a “51st state.” Before his first visit north of the border since becoming the top American diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Canada’s sovereignty wouldn’t be a topic of discussion. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock posted a photo on X with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, directing a message to Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly , declaring, “We’ve got your back.” Reporters gather around EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as she conducts an interview with CNN. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Kallas wore red and donned a maple leaf pin. The former prime minister of Estonia strode into the press room at Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que., just before noon for a televised interview with CNN. Reporters in the room immediately encircled the top diplomat as she spoke with an anchor back in the American broadcaster’s studio. After her one-on-one interview ended, reporters erupted in questions, asking for clarity on where Europe stood on American attacks against Canada’s sovereignty. She quickly exited the room without answering. We’ve got your back, @melaniejoly 🇨🇦🇪🇺. #Canada #Solidarity @kajakallas pic.twitter.com/OcwUdTDBiR— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock March 13, 2025 Earlier in the day, Baerbock also didn’t directly answer a reporter’s question about the American threats. “What we have learned altogether in these shaky geopolitical times in three years—especially in moments where your heart is really beating—it’s important to keep a calm head,” she said. The German top diplomat added that the G7 is a “powerhouse” for “freedom” and a “common understanding of peace.” She said that Germany and Europe “can learn a lot” from Canada’s “common spirit” of “patriotism.” German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock didn't directly answer a question on Canadian sovereignty, imploring for calm. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade The silence mirrors a reluctance among members of the Ottawa diplomatic corps to come to Canada’s defence, fearing a response may turn on them. Others have viewed Canada as a test case for how the globe will handle a world upended by Trumpian peril. Rubio-Joly meeting highlights Day Two Joly welcomed French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Baerbock, Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani, Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Takeshi Iwaya, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Kallas to La Malbaie as the Group of Seven was back in Charlevoix for the first time since the chaotic 2018 Leaders’ Summit. For Joly, the second day of the gathering began with a meeting with Rubio. Joly had pledged to raise concern over tariffs in all her meetings, including to co-ordinate with EU members of the G7 to pressure the United States. Top diplomats are pictured during the 'family photo' at the G7 foreign ministers' meeting. From left to right: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Takeshi Iwaya, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock, and Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade That pledge came as Canada enacted $29.8-billion in retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S. imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, which was in violation of a 2019 Canada-U.S. agreement and a 2018 side letter of the North American trade deal. As the second day of the gathering began, the global trade war was on the brink of further escalation. Trump threatened a 200 per cent tariff on European alcohol imports in retaliation to a 50 per cent levy on American bourbon imports which were enacted in retaliation to the U.S. putting in place 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum. While Rubio headed into the meeting dismissing that Canada’s sovereignty was on the agenda, in Washington, D.C., Trump once again called for annexation, remarking that “Canada only works as a state.” Blocks away on Capitol Hill, Pete Hoekstra—Trump’s pick as ambassador to Canada—called the nation a sovereign state. Heading into the G7 meeting, Rubio poured water on the hope of a strong joint communique condemning Russia’s continued assault on Ukraine, as he cautioned against including any language in a statement that would prevent Russia and Ukraine from agreeing to take part in peace talks. Before coming to Canada, Rubio was in Saudi Arabia where Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire if Russia also joined. On March 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had 'reservations' about the overture. After the Joly-Rubio meeting, the eight top diplomats braved the below-zero temperature as they gathered outside for a “family photo” perched above the St. Lawrence River. Before the gathering of top diplomats, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she would raise concerns about tariffs with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade The agenda of the gathering was upended with news that Liberal Leader Mark Carney will be sworn in as the next prime minister on March 14, which will be accompanied by a cabinet shuffle. Media reports indicate that Joly will retain her job as Canada’s top diplomat. Joly’s bilateral meetings that were planned for March 14 were moved up, and a planned press conference for that day is increasingly unlikely to occur. But as of publication time, Global Affairs Canada has yet to release an updated schedule. Work together ‘to meet this moment’: Joly Returning indoors, Joly delivered brief opening marks before a closed-door group meeting. “There’s a saying here in Quebec: avoir du pain sur la planche,” she said. “It is true. We have a lot of bread on our plate to work on common challenges.” “Here as G7 foreign ministers we must meet the moment. It is up to us to do that task. We should not be daunted by the task. We should be working together to meet this moment,” Joly said. On March 13, the eight top diplomats convened for meetings on the strength of the G7, the Indo-Pacific, and Ukraine. The Group of Seven returned to Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Que., for the first time since the chaotic Leaders' Summit in 2018. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade The top GAC official at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting is David Angell, the political director and assistant deputy minister for international security and political affairs. On March 7, Angell was appointed the foreign and defence adviser to the prime minister in the Privy Council Office. He will start the role at the end of the month. Angell was a previous ambassador to NATO and high commissioner in Kenya. During the foreign ministers’ session on Ukraine, the top diplomats applauded the role of the United States in the peace process, according to a readout from the Japanese foreign ministry. “The G7 ministers expressed their high appreciation for the U.S.’s efforts towards peace and pointed out the importance for the G7 to work together to have Russia act positively,” the release read. “The ministers reaffirmed the G7’s unwavering support for Ukraine, while pointing out the significance of security guarantee of Ukraine,” it continued. Iwaya told his counterparts that the peace process in Ukraine will affect the entirety of the international order, according to the foreign ministry’s readout. “They must not allow a situation to arise from which wrong precedents can be drawn,” the statement noted. nmoss@hilltimes.com The Hill Times
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