Some of the terms used to describe Prime Minister Mark Carney’s statement on the United States’ illegal military extraction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in Caracas included words like “weak,” “slow and lethargic,” and even “impotent.”

Diya Jiang, a researcher who specializes in international trade with a focus on US–Canada economic relations at McGill University, however, believes the prime minister’s response was measured and pragmatic. Carney’s statement had to be suited to our times, Jiang reasons. “The first thing he said was that Canada never recognized the legitimacy of Maduro’s presidency—that has a lot to do with timing because we have CUSMA currently up for review. There are a lot of uncertainties associated with that.”

Jiang is referring to the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement, the trade pact that replaced NAFTA during President Donald Trump’s first term. How the US will approach the upcoming review is a major concern. Much will depend on the administration’s political will—and on any unexpected demands from Trump, which could further complicate negotiations already strained by recent tariffs and trade disputes. The volatility in Canada–US relations has made Ottawa especially cautious. “Because of the turbulence we faced last year, Canada really needed to consider a response that wouldn’t anger the US,” Jiang said.

The Walrus spoke to Jiang about our government’s position on the US’ capture of Maduro, what Trump’s sights on Venezuelan oil—the same type of crude oil that Canada produces for the US—mean for energy interdependence, and whether Venezuela’s fate is a kind of warning.

The prime minister seemed to tiptoe around the fact that Maduro’s capture is a serious breach of international law.

Canada is caught in the middle—especially in comparison to the European leaders’ responses. We are well-integrated with the US and very dependent on the US economy. That’s going to be the reality for a........

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