What Egypt Means for Canada

We won't know what impact the uprising in Egypt will have on Canada until our allies react and the world order is realigned.

Unlike some of the major players in the region or in the world, for Canada the real impact of the situation in Egypt won’t be what happens in Egypt, but how Canadian allies and associates respond to the situation. For us it will be far more important to react to the way the United States, Israel or Great Britain reacts. Their reactions could have a significant impact on the way the world order plays out and the implications for us, whereas Canada itself is not a serious player in this situation and as a result these developments won’t have a major direct result on us. It seems that there will be a reorganization of alliances and once that’s taken place, Canada will have to see where it stands in the new world order.

As a change in the situation in Egypt affects the United States’ approach to the Middle East, or as it affects trade relations in the Middle East more generally or the security of natural resources in the region, all of a sudden there will be implications for Canada, so I think we have to wait and read the situation before reacting.

Related links:

Understand the uprising in Egypt. The Mark's experts explain what's happening and what it means.

Jonathan Kay: Bush deserves credit for the uprising in Egypt

Janice Stein, Tarek Fatah, and other prominent thinkers offer solutions to the crisis.

Uprising in Egypt: world leaders react

Egypt timeline: what got us here