In this Expert Series episode, Vincent Rigby and Eugene Lang assess Canada’s defence and foreign policy under Trudeau’s leadership over the past decade, noting that the government has struggled to keep up with significant global changes. Together, we discuss how geopolitical tensions, particularly with China, Russia, and the United States, have evolved rapidly—and Canada’s response has been slow.
While there have been some efforts to adjust, these have often been reactive, fragmented, and lacking a cohesive long-term strategy. Rigby and Lang suggest that Canada’s defence posture has weakened compared to a decade ago, and the country’s influence on the global stage has diminished. In their view, the government has not effectively addressed the growing international challenges.
