MLI Managing Director writes about why allies like Korea need Canadian international leadership in a dangerous world
OTTAWA, June 16, 2016 – South Korea and Canada, as middle powers with a wide range of shared interests, values and relationships, are the kind of countries of which much may be expected in the next few years, writes Brian Lee Crowley in a new commentary for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
South Korea, in facing more immediate geographic threats from China and North Korea, is farther along in coming to terms with what this might mean.
To read the full commentary, titled “Canada and Korea: Strategic Partners, Shared Challenges”, click here.
The time will come, however, when Canada will need to choose sides: Make nice with China in an effort to gain access to one of the world’s fastest-growing markets or stand up for vulnerable countries like South Korea.
“We should never be so dazzled by China’s commercial potential that we forget that to counterbalance Chinese power we will want lots of like-minded friends”, writes Crowley.
The need for middle powers to work together is increasingly important in today’s world, says Crowley, given the United States is currently not devoting much of its resources to counterbalancing China.
This Commentary is based on a talk given at the 5th Annual Canada-Korea Dialogue Series on the Hill in Ottawa, June 7, 2016.
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Brian Lee Crowley is the Managing Director of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is the only non-partisan, independent national public policy think tank in Ottawa focusing on the full range of issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
To arrange an interview with either author, please contact Mark Brownlee, communications manager, at 613-482-8327 x105 or email at mark.brownlee@macdonaldlaurier.ca.
