Joly Urges G7 Ministers to Seize the Moment with New Maritime Initiatives

LA MALBAIE, Que. — On Thursday, ministers from several of the globe's leading nations convened to demonstrate their solidarity in support of liberal democracies. During this meeting, Canada suggested increased maritime collaboration as the group remains divided over issues related to Ukraine and U.S. tariffs.

“We have to seize this opportunity,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stated to her counterparts from the U.S., Europe, and Japan at the start of the Group of Seven foreign ministers' gathering in Charlevoix, located northeast of Quebec City. “The challenge ahead shouldn’t discourage us.”

Previously, Joly committed to bringing up increased economic pressure from America and President Donald Trump's demands for Canada’s annexation during her private bilateral talks.

However, she confined her public comments on Thursday to common goals, highlighting that the G7 has progressed in safeguarding Ukrainian sovereignty and combating foreign interference operations.

She urged the G7 to collaborate on tackling "the marine aspect" of security challenges, which encompasses issues like "expanding clandestine navies, mysterious ships, subversion of vital underwater facilities, unlawful fishing activities, and the depletion of oceanic biodiversity."

Prior to delivering her opening remarks, Joly had a private conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. She subsequently shared on social media that their discussion centered around "the effects of tariffs," though she did not disclose the specifics of what she conveyed during their talk.

The G7 confronts increasing global instability and changing geopolitics, particularly following Trump's comeback to the White House.

Trump has distanced himself from allies attempting to ostracize Russia due to its conflict in Ukraine, all while engaging in trade disputes with both Canada and Europe.

The meeting this week follows Ukraine’s declaration that they might agree to a ceasefire if Russia consents to specific terms. According to a statement released Thursday evening, Joly mentioned that Canada supports the potential truce and urges Russia to take action accordingly.

"Through this accord, Ukraine has demonstrated its strong wish to conclude the conflict swiftly and its dedication to acting as a proactive ally," she stated, commending the discussions for emphasizing the war’s humanitarian consequences.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that he concurs in principle with a US suggestion of a 30-day truce in Ukraine but requires clarification regarding its conditions.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry characterized the talks about Ukraine on Thursday as a "frank exchange of opinions," which also emphasized "the significance of the G7 collaborating to encourage Russia to take positive actions."

Japan stated that the outcome of the Ukraine conflict might establish "misleading examples" for global affairs as a whole. Earlier, they pointed out that North Korean forces are fighting alongside Russian troops on Ukraine’s frontlines.

"The security of both Europe and the Indo-Pacific has increasingly grown interconnected," the ministry pointed out in an additional overview of Thursday’s discussions.

After her initial comments on Thursday, Joly chose not to interact with the press, and her team released minimal details regarding the progress of the discussions.

Last weekend saw extensive coverage of an incident where Washington blocked a Canadian initiative proposed for the Charlevoix summit. This plan was designed to address the issue of Russian "ghost flotilla" oil tankers bypassing Western economic restrictions.

A Canadian government representative, who wasn’t cleared to comment publicly on the diplomatic matter, verified these news stories for The Canadian Press, and Joly touched upon the topic during her introductory comments on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Joly informed journalists that she intends to utilize “every single meeting” to counteract U.S. tariffs, stating that these measures are intended to absorb Canada.

On that same day, Rubio stated that the G7 meeting was "not a conference aimed at how we will dominate Canada."

Up until now, Ottawa’s allies have mostly stayed silent regarding Trump's aspirations to annex Canada as part of the United States.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the EU's foreign policy chief used their clothing choices to send a message of support Thursday.

Joly, Baerbock shared an image on platform X showing her dressed in white next to European Commission High Representative Kaja Kallas who was wearing red. The post included the caption “We’ve got your back” along with a Canadian flag.

"The use of Canadian colors signifies our support for our Canadian friends," Kallas mentioned during a subsequent interview.

Previously, Baerbock proposed that the G7 countries should refrain from panicking.

"In these uncertain geopolitical times, we've gathered valuable lessons... particularly during moments when your heart races, it's crucial to remain composed," Baerbock stated to reporters.

She mentioned that the G7 has served as "a powerhouse … for liberty, for our shared comprehension of peace."

When questioned about his silence regarding Trump’s threat to annex Canada, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani responded, “The response is quite straightforward: Canada will remain Canada in the days ahead.”

Vina Nadjibulla, who serves as the research vice-president at the Asia Pacific Foundation, stated that Joly’s emphasis on maritime projects is essentially how Canada aims to achieve agreement and demonstrate its value to G7 allies.

"It’s an exceptionally intelligent approach to include multiple items on the agenda, making it a comprehensive issue that highlights not only Canada's capabilities but also our strategic stance,” she stated. “This initiative integrates our plans for the Indo-Pacific, Arctic, and Euro-Atlantic regions.”

Nadjibulla suggested that these measures could address navigation freedoms in the Taiwan Strait, alleviate Europe’s worries regarding underwater cables, and tackle wider matters of ocean conservation and international trade.

They expand upon Canada's efforts to fight illegal fishing in regions such as Southeast Asia and enhance military cooperation with nations like the Philippines, she explained.

The main worry for Minister Joly and for Canada as a whole is to sustain G7 cohesion and to effectively concentrate on matters significant to all member countries, including the United States," she stated. "This matter is crucial to our national security, particularly due to issues in the Arctic region.

The ministers plan to conduct an early afternoon press briefing on Friday; however, as of Thursday evening, the details of how this will take place were not yet established.

The Liberal leader, Mark Carney, will take the oath of office as prime minister on Friday morning, alongside his new cabinet.

Joly is anticipated to stay on as the foreign minister and would typically be present at the swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.

This year, Canada is holding the rotating G7 presidency, and a national leaders' summit is scheduled for June in Alberta.

The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on March 13, 2025.

Dylan Robertson from The Canadian Press