Trudeau, Trump talk trade during sideline meeting at NATO summit
| |
PM Justin Trudeau (1st L) arrives at the NATO summit on July 11, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium |
The conversation focused on trade, including efforts to revamp the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement and the ramifications for those talks of Mexico’s presidential election, from which left-leaning populist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador emerged victorious.
The conversation was “positive,” one official said. But Trudeau appeared to be far from Trump’s orbit during the traditional gathering of leaders for the NATO family photo op and ceremony, standing quietly to the side as Trump chatted with Britain’s Theresa May, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel.
Trump held several official bilateral meetings, some 2,000 journalists following his every move, while Trudeau held only one: a talk with the prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Lofven, whose country is a partner nation to NATO.
The only time the Canadian prime minister pulled focus was during an early question-and-answer session with NATO delegates.
Trudeau portrayed himself as a kind of counterweight to Trump’s protectionist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, promoting the idea that Canada remains a refuge for migrants and that NATO countries must not only build military capacity, but also build societies that are “based on values and not identity.”
“Those kinds of principles, I think, are going to be extraordinarily important in the 21st century as we get flows of migrations, people looking for better lives, people fleeing,” he said.
“We have to start thinking about how we create societies that look at different stories as opportunities to learn and grow within your societies, rather than trying to keep the challenges of the world outside of your borders.”
The question of “how to be open” is something NATO and the developed world will have to continue to grapple with in the coming years, he added.
“Yes, we need to take care of the poverty and challenges we have at home, each of us – but we also need to look at what we do to alleviate stress, tensions, misery around the world, because if we don’t, the trend lines we’ll be on as a world will leave us all poorer, poorer off.”
Later in the day, NATO leaders issued an early final communiqué, in which they reaffirmed the alliance’s “unwavering commitment” to see member states dedicate two per cent of GDP on defence spending by 2024, acknowledging growth in military and defence spending among many ally nations.
That came despite Trump pushing NATO leaders behind closed doors, unsuccessfully, to increase the NATO defence spending target to four per cent of GDP.
In a move that echoed his contentious departure from the G7 summit in Quebec, Trump later posted a tweet that appeared to contradict the communiqué, insisting countries should “pay two per cent of GDP immediately, not by 2025.”
The summit wraps up Thursday after one more day of meetings.
See also

Australian Prime Minister to pay official visit to Việt Nam
09:21 | 02/06/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Huge potential for Việt Nam - Mozambique cooperation official
09:13 | 02/06/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Việt Nam, Laos promote technological cooperation, technology transfer
15:04 | 30/05/2023 Vietnam and ASEAN

Vietnam attends MRT 29, more opportunities for businesses
12:04 | 27/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Israel - an important trading partner of Vietnam
06:00 | 27/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Large room for Việt Nam, New Zealand to boost trade, investment ties official
09:27 | 25/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions
See more news

Việt Nam highly values WHO’s close technical partnership official
09:17 | 25/05/2023 Cooperation

Slovenia to prompt EC to remove IUU yellow card for Việt Nam
06:00 | 25/05/2023 Vietnam and EU

Boosting tuna exports to Japan
06:00 | 25/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Việt Nam calls for Canada’s support in green development
09:48 | 24/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Czech Republic very important partner of Việt Nam: NA Chairman
09:42 | 24/05/2023 Vietnam and EU

Việt Nam wants to step up multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia PM
09:26 | 24/05/2023 Vietnam and EU

Ample opportunity for Việt Nam-Slovenia trade, investment
06:00 | 24/05/2023 Vietnam and EU

Vietnamese leaders welcome Chairman of United Russia Party
08:53 | 23/05/2023 Vietnam and other regions

PM Chính highlights Việt Nam’s stance on peace, stability and development
09:25 | 22/05/2023 Cooperation

Việt Nam affirms commitment to full implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention
09:21 | 22/05/2023 Cooperation

Over 77,000 computers in Vietnam suffer data encryption in 7 months Bkav
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Science - Technology

Hanoi: Agricultural development policies lack real-world effectiveness
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Metropolis

Children's artwork displayed at HCM City exhibition
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Lifestyle

Minister receives Head of EU delegation to Vietnam
13:23 | 03/06/2023 Vietnam and EU

Australian PM Anthony Albanese begins official visit to Vietnam
09:05 | 03/06/2023 News and Events
Multimedia

Children's artwork displayed at HCM City exhibition
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Lifestyle

A memorable summer with fireworks and fun festivals in Đà Nẵng
09:41 | 02/06/2023 Tourism

Top models to compete in national modeling reality TV show
09:30 | 02/06/2023 Lifestyle

Favourable visa policy urged to draw foreign tourists to Việt Nam
06:00 | 01/06/2023 Tourism

Việt Nam received 4.6 million foreign visitors in first five months, over half the year’s target
14:38 | 30/05/2023 Tourism

Deputy PM urges acceleration of electricity licensing for finished wind, solar power projects
10:06 | 25/05/2023 Policy

Specific mechanisms, policies needed to drive HCM City’s growth
06:02 | 20/05/2023 Policy

PM approves National Power Development Plan VIII
14:20 | 17/05/2023 Policy

Chip-based passports can be provided online, sent via post
07:00 | 13/05/2023 Policy

Cement industry suffers financial losses during Q1
09:54 | 02/06/2023 Industry

Việt Nam has major opportunities to engage in global Halal industry Deputy minister
06:00 | 31/05/2023 Industry

Cut on automobile registration fees to facilitate auto industry
14:33 | 30/05/2023 Industry

Suitable solutions needed for each sector
06:00 | 30/05/2023 Industry

FDI enterprises urge investment environment improvement
06:00 | 01/06/2023 FDI

Vietnam's five-month FDI rises sharply nationwide
13:03 | 29/05/2023 FDI

Binh Phuoc’s potential introduced to Australian partners
10:13 | 26/05/2023 Investment

Da Nang calls for investment in 10 logistics centre projects
14:57 | 23/05/2023 Investment

Important: Multi-target monetary policies needed
06:00 | 02/06/2023 Finance-Banking

Dozens of commercial banks cut savings interest rates
09:31 | 30/05/2023 Finance-Banking

Central bank continues to reduce policy interest rates
06:12 | 27/05/2023 Finance-Banking

Nearly 2.3 billion USD in state capital saved in 2022: Gov't report
06:09 | 25/05/2023 Finance-Banking

PM urges stronger wildfire prevention measures amid strong heatwaves
06:00 | 28/05/2023 Environment

Vietnam targets development of green, plastic waste-free tourism
06:00 | 28/05/2023 Environment

Đồng Nai afforestation programme kicks off
06:00 | 27/05/2023 Environment

New task force promotes innovation and financing for plastic waste reduction
14:30 | 26/05/2023 Environment

Over 77,000 computers in Vietnam suffer data encryption in 7 months Bkav
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Science - Technology

Vigorous changes in science and technology
06:00 | 03/06/2023 Science - Technology

Internet speeds up as four of five undersea cables repaired
08:56 | 02/06/2023 Science - Technology

Over 77,000 computers in Vietnam suffer data encryption in 7 months Bkav
16:29 | 30/05/2023 Science - Technology

Hanoi: Agricultural development policies lack real-world effectiveness
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Metropolis

New Zealand provides 40 full micro-credentials scholarships for Vietnamese learners
16:23 | 26/05/2023 Society

Mong Cai city imports electricity from China’s Dongxing
10:37 | 25/05/2023 Energy

Seminar discusses orientations for rapid and sustainable national development
07:15 | 22/05/2023 Society

• Tripadvisor highlights the sole hotel in Da Nang in the prestigious Travelers' Choice Best of the Best award
09:30 | 28/05/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Pfizer Vietnam, VNVC sign MoU to protect public health
09:00 | 26/05/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Vietjet offers 50% discount on SkyBoss Business tickets
08:55 | 26/05/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Positioning Vietnam’s Green National Brand
06:00 | 26/05/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Children's artwork displayed at HCM City exhibition
06:00 | 04/06/2023 Lifestyle

Top models to compete in national modeling reality TV show
09:30 | 02/06/2023 Lifestyle

International festival provides platform to young musicians
06:00 | 30/05/2023 Lifestyle

Bát Tràng ancient pottery exhibited at Việt Nam National Museum of History
06:00 | 28/05/2023 Lifestyle

A memorable summer with fireworks and fun festivals in Đà Nẵng
09:41 | 02/06/2023 Tourism

Favourable visa policy urged to draw foreign tourists to Việt Nam
06:00 | 01/06/2023 Tourism

Việt Nam received 4.6 million foreign visitors in first five months, over half the year’s target
14:38 | 30/05/2023 Tourism

Da Nang - A destination with the most beautiful mountainous scenery in Asia
09:00 | 24/05/2023 Tourism