Canadian diplomacy in Southeast Asia: challenges for the coming decades

Abstract

ABSTRACT Canada’s public commitment to raising its engagement with Southeast Asia is an important recognition of the region’s growing political, economic, and strategic significance to Canada. Despite an early postwar presence of Canadian diplomats in the region, significant development assistance and participation in key security initiatives and dialogs, Canada’s engagement in recent decades has been inconsistent and more limited. To renew its credibility in the region, Canada should commit to comprehensive, long-term investment in its ties with ASEAN countries that takes into account not only Canada’s domestically driven interests, but the region’s long-term challenges as well. At time when Canada needs more partners in the world, this approach can help strengthen and solidify key partnerships in Southeast Asia.