Canada and the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing economic region in the world. By 2030, it will be home to two-thirds of the global middle class. By 2040, the region will account for more than half of the global economy. The Indo-Pacific will play a critical role in shaping Canada’s future over the next half century.

Every issue that matters to Canadians—our national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law, democratic values, public health, protecting our environment and human rights—will be shaped by the relationships Canada and its allies and partners have with Indo-Pacific countries.

The Indo-Pacific represents a new horizon of opportunity. It calls for a generational shift in Canada’s foreign policy—one that will harness the significant opportunities that the region represents and respond to the inherent challenges. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is a whole-of-society effort that will guide our actions and ensure that Canadians and people in the region benefit from our engagement.

Building on Canada’s historical and cultural ties with the Indo-Pacific, and decades of engagement with partners across the region, Canada is committed to investing resources for the future and prosperity of our economy, security and stability.

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy reflects Canada’s values and builds on its extensive long-standing partnerships with countries and economies in the region. The Strategy will contribute to advancing and defending Canada’s interests by supporting a more secure, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable region, while protecting Canada’s national and economic security.

The Strategy is rooted in Canada’s unwavering commitment to supporting democracy, the rule of law, rules-based and inclusive trade, peace and security, human rights, gender equality and concrete action on climate change and the environment.

This is a whole-of-society effort. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has implications for all Canadians and aims to position Canadians for success through engagement with this dynamic and rapidly growing region of the world.

The Strategy has five interconnected strategic objectives:

1. Promote peace, resilience and security

Stability in the Indo-Pacific is essential to global stability. The Government of Canada’s actions are guided by an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Canadians. Through the Strategy, Canada will invest in an enhanced military presence in the region, as well as in intelligence and cyber security, to promote security in the region and ensure the safety of Canadians at home. To help achieve these goals, Canada will leverage its Women, Peace and Security agenda and its established security partnerships in the region to reinforce regional capabilities and promote stability.

2. Expand trade, investment and supply chain resilience

Canada is a trading nation. Through the Strategy, Canada will seize economic opportunities by strengthening and diversifying its regional partnerships while building a stronger and more secure economy at home. The Strategy will position Canada for long-term growth and prosperity that benefits all Canadians by expanding market access, diversifying supply chains, securing productive investment, protecting intellectual property,  promoting competitive business opportunities and fostering a more open, predictable and sustainable regional economic order.

3. Invest in and connect people

Investing in ties between Canadians and people living in Indo-Pacific countries lies at the heart of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Canada will expand educational exchanges, bolster visa-processing capacity, and empower Canadian organizations and experts to engage in the region even more. Canada will also increase its feminist international assistance to address local development challenges, advance collective efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals and continue to engage and defend human rights in the region.

4. Build a sustainable and green future

Tackling climate change, reversing biodiversity loss and supporting sustainable economies represent global challenges that require global solutions. The Indo-Pacific accounts for more than half of all global greenhouse gas emissions and includes many rapidly industrializing economies that will have a significant impact on the environmental sustainability of the region and beyond.

Through new and expanded partnerships across the region, Canada will support the Indo-Pacific in its transition to a sustainable and low-carbon future that is resilient to climate-related natural disasters. Canada will share expertise in clean technology, oceans management, energy transition and climate finance and work collaboratively across the region to reduce emissions and prevent further biodiversity loss. Canada will also work in concert with G7 partners to help the region meet its growing infrastructure funding gap.

5. Canada as an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific

The Indo-Pacific Strategy will position Canada as an even more active, engaged and reliable partner throughout the region. Canada will expand its presence and strengthen its influence, deepening and diversifying its regional partnerships and collaborating on issues of common cause. Leveraging this enhanced regional standing, Canada will more effectively defend and advance its national interests, support the future health, security and prosperity of Canadians and contribute concretely to defending the rules-based international order over the coming decades.