Former Canadian PM: ‘America First’ here to stay

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada

Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told an intelligence alliance Wednesday that the Donald Trump administration’s “America First” policy is here to stay, even if Trump is not.

“Whether Donald Trump succeeds or not as president, ultimately, I do think that the realignment or the change of approach that he is bringing, is to some degree, in my judgement, bound to outlast his presidency,” Harper said.

He was speaking in London at a discussion conference of representatives of the five-country Five Eyes security organization. The group includes Canada, the U.K., United States, New Zealand and Australia.

America, he said, is likely to act in its own interests and that may run counter to what its allies would like to see.

Harper conceded that may not be “ideal” and the Five Eye group “may be frustrated with elements of the Trump administration policy.”

But Canada and other nations will have to adapt to the changing U.S. because a relationship with America is important in many ways.

“The truth of the matter is when it comes to security … prosperity and value systems, there really is no other alternative in the world for us, but a strong partnership with the United States of America,” he said.

At the same time, the U.S. would be in error to embark down a go-it-alone road, Harper said.

“I think it would be a mistake for the United States to believe that it doesn’t need partners around the world,” he said. “The idea that you are just going to pursue your best interests by simply acting unilaterally or without regard even to your closest allies, would be a very big mistake over a long period of time.”

Harper also said while Islamic terrorism remains a threat, he believed cyberattacks should most concern the Five Eyes alliance.

Russia is currently the leader in that area, China poses a much larger threat in the long run since countries use Chinese hardware and software systems.

Harper said the alliance must come up with it a collective set of safeguards to throttle the Chinese threat.