3. Cold War - Indirect Conflicts
& Canadian Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy - definition


a government’s
policy governing
international
relations with other
countries
Foreign policies
generally are
designed to help
protect a country's:
• national interests
(country's priorities &
goals re: what’s best
for the country),
• national security,
• ideological goals, and
• economic prosperity
This can occur as a result of peaceful
cooperation with other nations
(diplomacy), or through aggression,
war, and exploitation

Canada as Middle Power
• The threat of nuclear
annihilation kept superpowers
(USA and USSR) from open war
– both sides had allies in the
developing world, where wars
did occur
• Canada emerged as a leading
"middle power," assuming the
role of peacekeeper and
negotiator in international
disputes
• Prime ministers remained
prominent in international
affairs, taking part in visits from
foreign heads of state, world
tours, treaty negotiations, and
other activities
• Canada also became an
active member of the UN,
supporting and promoting
peace
Reflect & Discuss


What is “Foreign Policy”? Why is it
necessary?
Why was Canada known as a “Middle
Power” during the Cold War and why was
this an important role?
Cold War Indirect Conflicts
a. The Korean War 1950-53

WWII left Korea divided
into:
• Communist North,
supported by the USSR
and China
• Democratic South,
supported by the U.S.A.


In 1950 North Korea
invaded South Korea
a UN force under
American command
tried to force the
invaders to retreat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0hyALDW7Y&feature=related
Korean War – cont’


Canada sent
thousands of troops
(27,000) to fight in
Korea as part of the
UN
Canada’s Minister of
External Affair Lester
Pearson urged all
sides to agree to a
cease fire
Canadian soldiers in Korea
Korean war – con’t

From July 1951-July, 1953 – a stalemate
developed – no side made great advances *See
animation -

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/korea.htm
In July 1953 both sides agreed to an armistice /
ceasefire
 Korea remained divided
and tensions increased
between the West and the
communist nations.
 The Korean War
demonstrated that the UN
was willing to take action
b. The Suez Crisis -1956




Suez canal in Egypt – links Mediterranean Sea with Red Sea
provides shortest sea route from Europe to the Indian Ocean
built in 1800s and privately owned by British and French
investors
1956 – Egypt’s president, Nasser, & gov. took over canal and
wanted to nationalize it (to be owned and run by the
government)
The other side of the Suez Crisis – Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnsBHL7PDv0&feature=related
Suez Crisis – cont’


Israel frightened of Egyptian
aggression – Egypt threatened
to bar ships to and from Israel
from using the canal
Britain and France backed
Israel; USSR backed Egypt
Suez Crisis – cont’
•Lester Pearson – went
to UN to try and work
out solution
• proposed a UN
Emergency Force
(UNEF) (later became
peacekeeping forces)
be sent to Suez Canal
to separate and
mediate
Canadians at Suez
Suez Crisis – cont’

1957 - Pearson
awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize for his
efforts in defusing the
crisis
Lester Pearson
accepting Prize
Reflect & Discuss






What started the Korean War and in what years did it
occur?
How was Canada involved in the Korean War?
Why was the Korean war an important event in the
history of the UN?
Why did the Suez Crisis occur, and in what year?
Who suggested the use of an UN Emergency Force and
what did he win as a result in 1957?
How are both the Korean Conflict and the Suez Crisis
examples of indirect conflicts between the USA and
USSR?
c. The Cuban Missile Crisis -1962

1959 - Cuban communist rebels under Fidel
Castro overthrew Cuba’s pro-US leader in a
revolution
• US reacted angrily by imposing trade economic
sanctions on Cuba
• 1961 – US backed an
invasion of Cuba by antiCastro Cubans – failed (Bay
of Pigs)
• this encouraged Cuba to
turn to the USSR
(Khrushchev) for support
Castro & Khrushchev
Cuban Missile Crisis – cont’

1962 - US planes
took photos
showing that the
USSR was
installing
offensive nuclear
missile bases in
Cuba – direct
threat to US
security
Cuban Missile Crisis – cont’

President
Kennedy
announced a
naval and air
blockade of
Cuba
Cuban Missile
Crisis – cont’


Soviet Premier
Nikita Krushchev –
at 1st refused to
remove missiles
world on brink of
nuclear war
Cuban Missile Crisis – cont’

at last minute, Krushchev agreed to remove
missiles with US agreement that would not
invade Cuba
Canada & the Cuban Missile Crisis


the U.S. expected full
support from Canada (its
NORAD partner)
however PM Diefenbaker
was reluctant to have
Canada drawn into the
conflict and at first
refused to put Canadian
NORAD forces on red
alert and allow U.S.
planes with atomic
weapons to land in
Canada
Canada & the Cuban Missile Crisis

Canadian troops
were eventually
put on alert;
however CanadaU.S. relations
were already
damaged
Fog of War Lesson One – Empathize with your Enemy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOoOcIFhaoA&feature=related
Reflect & Discuss



How did the Cuban Missile Crisis start?
How was this crisis a defining moment in
the Cold War?
What was Canada’s involvement? Was
the USA happy with how Diefenbaker
reacted? Why or why not?
d. The Vietnam War 1954-1975
a) The U.S. in
Vietnam:
 major conflict in
Cold War
 North –
communistcontrolled –
backed by USSR
 South – although
more dictatorship
than democracy –
was supported by
USA
Vietnam
Vietnam & Domino Theory



USA feared that if south fell
to communism – all Asian
countries could fall – by
1960’s USA sent troops
first war recorded by
television cameras
Americans watched
Vietnamese villages being
bombed, own young men
returning home disabled or
in body bags – some began
questioning involvement
Billy Joel – Goodnight Saigon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6gZefW4yEA&feature=related
Vietnam – cont’




1968 – learned that US
soldiers had massacred
women and children in the
village of My Lai
ended in 1973 under
President Richard Nixon –
lost war – BADLY
Term “Vietnam” has
negative connotations to
this day
Canada, especially Lester
Pearson, critical of US
involvement in Vietnam
Vietnam – cont’
b) Canada’s reaction to the
Vietnam War:
 PM Pearson did not support
American involvement in the
war – Canadian government
officially NOT INVOLVED
 Canada welcomed American
“Draft Dodgers”
 Some Canadian citizens
enlisted in American military and
fought in war (approx 40,000
between 1959-1975)
e. Cyprus - 1964





Civil war broke out on
the Mediterranean
island of Cyprus
Between Greek majority
& Turkish minority
Canadian UN troops initially sent in 1964
Last of troops not withdrawn until 1993
Now Cyprus is in relative harmony
CBC Archives – Cyprus Pullout
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC-1-71-1290-7540/conflict_war/blue_berets/
Détente -1960-1979



Literally means
relaxation of tensions
In terms of Cold War,
refers to the period
between 1960-1979
when there was a
relaxation of tensions
between the USA and
USSR
SALT Treaties attempt
to limit nuclear
proliferation during this
time
Reflect & Discuss



How was the Vietnam War an example of
an indirect conflict between the USA and
USSR?
What was Canada’s involvement officially
and unofficially?
What was Canada’s involvement in
Cyprus?
Trudeau’s Foreign Policy
1. Canada-U.S. Relations



In 1968 the Liberals, lead by Pierre Elliot Trudeau were
elected
Trudeau wanted to steer foreign policy away from
dependence on the U.S.
Trudeau realized Canada should consider the U.S.
government to some extent when it came to foreign
affairs, as he explained in a famous speech:
“Living next to you is in some ways
like sleeping with an elephant. No
matter how friendly and even
tempered is the beast, one is
affected by every twitch and
grunt.” (March, 1969)
Trudeau & USA


Trudeau wanted to ease Cold
War tensions and scale back
Canada’s participation in the
nuclear arms race
Nuclear missiles were removed
from Canadian NATO forces in
Europe (1970-1972)
• Bomarc missile sites were
dismantled
• The last nuclear warheads were
removed from Canada by 1984.
• Trudeau cut the national defence
budget
Recognizing Communist China

In 1970, Canada
officially recognized the
communist government
of the People’s Republic
of China (even though
the U.S. was pressuring
to withhold the
recognition)
Canada & China – History


In 1949 – communists led by
Mao Zedong took over the
government of China
The UN, under pressure of
the USA, refused to
recognize the communist
government
• Instead recognized the former
government, now located in
Taiwan, which held one of the 5
permanent seats on the
Security Council

1971 – USA finally allowed
“Red China” to replace
Taiwan on the Security
Council
Mao Zedong & Trudeau
Cuba

When Cuba became
communist in 1959 –
the USA:
• established an embargo (A
government order imposing
trade barriers) on Cuba in
October 1960
• Broke diplomatic ties
following January
• Tensions peaked during the
Bay of Pigs invasion (1961)
and the Cuban Missile Crisis
(1962)

Trudeau (and PMs
after him) did not
cut diplomatic ties,
and ignored the
embargo
Trudeau – Nuclear Weapons
In early 1970’s –
tensions between US
and USSR eased –
agreed to reduce # of
nuclear weapons
•signed SALT I
(Strategic Arms
Limitation Treaty) in
1972

Trudeau Era

SALT II was delayed due to
several events led to each side
accusing the other of provoking
war:
1. 1979 – USSR invaded Afghanistan &
moved medium-range missiles into
Eastern Europe – so NATO announced
that it would move similar missiles into
Western Europe – SALT talks called off
2. 1983 (Sept.) – Soviet jets shot down
a Korean passenger jet that had
strayed into Soviet airspace
3. 1983 - USA –invaded Grenada (in
Caribbean) and deposed a Soviet
government
4. USA carried out a covert (secret) war
against left-wing Sandinista regime
in Nicaragua

Trudeau – appealed to both
sides to show more restraint –
conducted “peace tour” to enlist
support of countries around the
world
• However - 1984 – Trudeau
decided to leave politics
Foreign Aid - CIDA
While the Cold War politically split the world
between the East and West, an economic gap
separated the rich North from the poor
South.
 The Trudeau government aimed to promote
world peace, he believed the North should be
helping countries struck with poverty in the
South to develop their economies and improve
living conditions.
 This became known as a policy of “Trade and
Aid” of Trudeau’s foreign policy.
 In 1968 the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) was formed to
boost foreign aid to less industrialized countries
(countries receiving aid would agree to buy
products from Canada, which is called “tied
aid”)
Commonwealth & Francophonie




The Commonwealth was made of countries of the former
British Empire
la Francophonie was an organization of French-speaking
states (many were former colonies of France)
Canada is a member of both organizations, which discusses
solutions for the North-South gap.
1950 the Commonwealth countries created the Colombo
Plan to provide money and aid to less developed countries in
the organization in SE Asia (most of the Canadian aid went to
India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan)
Reflect & Discuss




What was Trudeau’s Foreign Policy towards the
USA?
What was Trudeau’s Foreign Policy towards
China? Cuba? How did these policies go
against the USA’s?
Why was Foreign Aid a part of Trudeau’s
Foreign Policy? Why did he feel it was
important?
How were the Commonwealth and
Francophonie connected to his Foreign Policy?
Group of Eight (G8)



Formerly Group of 7
(G7) – Canada joined
in 1976
Member countries:
Canada, France,
Germany, Italy,
Japan, Russia, the
United Kingdom and
the United States
an international forum
for the member
governments to meet
annually to discuss
political and
economic issues of
mutual concern
G8 con’t

Together, these countries
represent about:
• 65% of the world economy
• only about 14% of the world
population,
• the majority of global military
power (7 of the top 8 positions
for military expenditure, and
almost all of the world's active
nuclear weapons)
G8 – cont’


The group's activities include
year-round conferences and
policy research, culminating
with an annual summit meeting
attended by the heads of
government of the member
states. The European
Commission is also
represented at the meetings.
The ministerial meetings bring
together ministers responsible
for various portfolios to discuss
issues of mutual or global
concern.



G8 cont’
The range of topics
include health, law
enforcement, labour,
economic and social
development, energy,
environment, foreign
affairs, justice and
interior, terrorism and
trade.
Many people are critical
of the G8 because they
feel their policies
negatively affect
developed countries
common criticism: they
only look out for their
own interests rather that
what is best for the
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9IwOEeEQj8
world as a whole
Reflect & Discuss



What is the G8? What countries are
involved?
What is its purpose?
Why is it criticized in the world
community?
Middle East




Ongoing conflicts in Middle
East between Israel (est.
1949) and Arab states
1973 – Yom Kippur War
took place
Few years later - Anwar
Sadat – leader of Egypt –
initiated peace talks with
Israelis
USA – tends to back Israel,
USSR backs Arab nations
Middle East – cont’




Camp David accords – signed in 1979
Egyptians agreed to recognize Israeli’s right to
exist
In turn – Israelis agreed to negotiate the
occupied territories (i.e. Gaza Strip)
By late 1990s –agreement seemed close, but
Intifadas (Palestinian uprisings) started in 2001
– no resolution
Afghanistan – 1979-1988



Cold war “heated up” again when:
USSR placed 350 missiles in Eastern Europe
USSR invaded Afghanistan
•
•
•
Installed a new dictator, Karmal, as President
The West, China, and India were alarmed because the Soviets appeared to be
attempting to take control of the Persian Gulf
Result – USA boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics
• From 1980-1988 – viscous
war in Afghanistan - created
enormous refugee problem for
neighbouring states like
Pakistan
• 1988 – Soviets agreed to
withdraw
USA invaded Grenada - 1983

US justification for invasion – to depose a Soviet
government that had assassinated the Prime Minister
•Grenada was part of the Commonwealth of Nations
• invasion was opposed by the United Kingdom,
Trinidad & Tobago and Canada, among others.
•British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher
personally opposed
the U.S. invasion
Grenada – cont’
• Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, assured her that an
invasion was not contemplated. Reagan later said, "She was very
adamant and continued to insist that we cancel our landings on
Grenada. I couldn't tell her that it had already begun."[8]

After the invasion, Prime Minister Thatcher wrote to President
Reagan:
This action will be seen as intervention by a Western country in the internal
affairs of a small independent nation, however unattractive its regime. I
ask you to consider this in the context of our wider East-West relations
and of the fact that we will be having in the next few days to present to our
Parliament and people the siting of Cruise missiles in this country...I
cannot conceal that I am deeply disturbed by your latest
communication.[9]
Nicaragua
4.

USA carried out a covert (secret) war against leftwing Sandinista regime in Nicaragua
Trudeau – appealed to both sides to show more restraint –
conducted “peace tour” to enlist support of countries around the
world
• However - 1984 – Trudeau decided to leave politics
Reflect & Discuss

Explain these conflicts and their
importance to the Cold War:
•
•
•
•
Middle East
Afghanistan
Grenada
Nicaragua
Mulroney’s Foreign Policy
September 1984 – Conservative
leader Brian Mulroney became
new PM
 His approach to international
relations in many ways opposite
of Trudeau:
1.worked to forge stronger links
with USA
 developed close personal
relationship with President
Reagan

2. US’s Strategic Defense
Initiative – “Star Wars”


defense shield plan – part
of which would orbit the
earth
Canadians didn’t want it,
but Mulroney personally
did – however he said “no”
to Canada’s participation
3. Economically – Canada “open
for business”

Mulroney dismantled FIRA
(Foreign Investment
Review Agency) that
Trudeau set up in 1973 to
block any foreign investment
that seemed not to be in
Canada’s interest
4. 1987 – Free Trade
Agreement (FTA)


with USA – removed tariffs
on goods crossing the
border
very controversial
NAFTA




5. 1992 – North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA)
with USA and Mexico
very controversial
came into effect in 1994 under Chrétien
Reflect & Discuss


What characterized Mulroney’s Foreign
Policy?
What were the names and dates of the
two Free Trade Agreements negotiated by
Mulroney?
End of the Cold War




1985 - Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev – realized that USSR
could no longer afford costly arms
race with the U.S., he proposed
massive cuts in arsenal for both
powers.
To help communist countries run
more effectively Gorbachev began
a series of social, economic and
political reforms. New policies:
1. perestroika – reconstruction (of
economic and political systems) - a
policy supporting reform.
2. glasnost – openness (freedom
of speech, no censorship, etc.) encouraging open debate about
issues facing the country.
End of Cold War



November 1989 – Berlin Wall
came down
dissolution of USSR in 1991
– division between East and
West officially gone
broke into 15 smaller states
(including Poland, Hungary,
East Germany (now part of
Germany), Czechoslovakia,
Romania, and Yugoslavia)
New World Order

End of Cold War did not
bring peace to the world numerous regional conflicts
and ethnic rivalries, such
as:
• Gulf War – Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait (1991) Former
Yugoslavia (1991-1999)
• Somalia (1992)
• Rwanda (1994)
• Afghanistan (2001-present)
• US invasion of Iraq (2003present)
Post-Cold War Foreign Relations
Bi-lateral relations

Bi-lateral relations
– between Canada
and one other
country – some
important
relationships
include:
• Canadian-American
Relations
• Canadian-British
Relations
• Canada-Japan
Relations
Post-Cold War Foreign Relations
Multilateral relations


Multilateral relations – contacts with many other nations,
usually within one association or organization
Some International organizations of which Canada is a
part:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The United Nations (UN)
The Commonwealth
La Francophonie
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Organization of American States (OAS)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Group of Eight (G8)
Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD)
• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Reflect & Discuss



Define “bilateral” and “multilateral”
relations.
What are some of the more important
bilateral relations that Canada has?
What are some of the more improtant
multilateral relations that Canada has?