In early 2016, Canada’s new Foreign Minister pledged to strengthen ties with Russia, less
than two years after Canada cut ties over the annexation of Crimea.
So where do Canada and Russia stand?
Are they really allies?
Well, Canada and Russia are the two largest countries in the world.
They are separated by roughly 750 miles, covering the U.S. state of Alaska and the Bering Strait.
As was noted in their 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two countries share
cold winters, vast land, a sense of northernness and a love of hockey.
The two nations were originally somewhat allied during world war two, with Canada being used
to ship weapons and aid to Russia.
But in the mid 1940s, a Soviet embassy clerk defected to Canada, and revealed the extent
of Russia’s spy network.
This event, according to some, sparked the Cold War itself, and as a result, Canada actually
viewed the Soviet government as an enemy for longer than even the United States.
Throughout the Cold War, Canada regularly allied with the Western Bloc and NATO against
the Soviet Union.
However, for a brief period, Canada’s Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, attempted to bridge
the Cold War gap.
During one visit to Moscow in the 1970s, Trudeau described the United States as Canada’s
greatest cultural, economic, and military threat.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in late December of 1991, Canada almost immediately
entered into an official diplomatic relationship with the new Russian government.
In a final act of opposition to the former Soviet Union, Canada was also the first Western
country to recognize the newly independent Ukraine.
As the two largest Arctic states, ownership of the region’s oil and gas rights, the
effects of climate change, and the treatment of each country's’ indigenous northern populations
has led to both cooperation and distrust.
For issues like joint Arctic Search and Rescue operations, the two have seen bilateral support.
They’ve also worked together on the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons
and Materials of Mass Destruction.
However, the expulsion of Russia from the G8 in 2014, and numerous Western sanctions
have considerably slowed cooperation in all of these areas.
Since the end of the Cold War the two saw trade increase considerably, but in recent
years the balance of exports and imports has fallen.
2014 saw roughly 1.8 billion dollars in trade.
This was the same year Russia banned Canadian and other Western food imports in retaliation
for Western sanctions on the annexation of Crimea.
This atmosphere of distrust intensified during former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s
administration.
In June 2015, Harper claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin, did not belong in
the G7 because he “runs an economy that is dominated by oligarchs and criminal syndicates”.
So, why are Russia and Canada now seeking to strengthen ties?
Well, the new Liberal party is hoping to work on resolving their international conflict,
instead of cutting out Russia entirely.
The new foreign minister has cited America’s willingness to communicate with Russia, saying
it would be irresponsible not to do the same.
Russia and Canada’s relationship has long been rocky and complicated.
But their proximity, Arctic interests, and mutual obsession with the United States, means
that they will likely always be forced to work together.
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And although Russia and Canada may be on shaky ground, individually they are powerhouses.
Watch this video up top to learn about Russia, or the one at the bottom for more about Canada.
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