Why Global Trust May Be Our Most Underrated Foreign Policy Asset

During Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China last week, he stated ‘‘We take the world as it is – not as we wish it to be’’. While referring specifically to the new trade deal struck with Beijing, it encapsulates a pragmatic realism in Canada’s engagement with the world and the changed conditions of our geopolitical context. 

For many Canadians watching events throughout the hemisphere and internationally in recent weeks and months, this doesn’t come as a surprise. A great many of the assumptions that shaped Canada’s foreign policy for decades are under pressure, requiring Canadians to think long and hard about how we want to engage with the world. 

Yet new public opinion research suggests that Canada enters this period of flux with an often-overlooked advantage: extraordinary global trust.

Recent international polling conducted by GlobeScan with support from the Canadian International Council (which operates Open Canada), shows that Canada yields an immense amount of goodwill around the world. 

The global public views Canada more positively than any other major country surveyed – across 33 countries and territories surveyed in August 2025, 85 percent of the nearly 32K respondents said Canada has a positive influence in the world, with just 15 per cent expressing a negative view. No other country tested received a higher share of positive assessments.

Canada’s standing compares favourably with its traditional allies, such as Japan and Germany. Despite a cooling relationship between the US and Canada, more than eight in ten American respondents view Canada’s global influence positively.

Perhaps more striking – this is a reputation that Canada has held for more than two decades: global assessments of Canada’s influence have remained consistently high, weathering political change and international turbulence. After a brief dip in the mid-2010s, positive perceptions have climbed steadily, reaching a new high in 2025. Canada has a good deal of social capital – how will we spend it? 

Canadians Want a Foreign Policy That Reflects Today’s Realities

Amongst Canadian respondents, the research shows strong support for building alliances beyond the United States, advancing economic resilience, and strengthening national security. Climate action also ranks high, alongside immigration and border management. By contrast, fewer Canadians see maintaining close relations with the United States or traditional development assistance as top priorities.

Canadians appear increasingly comfortable with the idea that Canada’s interests are best served by a more diversified portfolio of relationships – economically, diplomatically, and strategically. 

One Country, Many Perspectives

Importantly, these priorities are not uniform.

Younger Canadians are more likely to emphasize climate action, environmental protection, human rights, and democratic values. Older generations and higher-income, highly educated Canadians tend to prioritize economic interests and alliances beyond the United States. Men are more inclined than women to stress trade and U.S. relations, while women place greater emphasis on global health and pandemic preparedness.

Regional differences also stand out. Respondents in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada are more likely to prioritize national security, while Quebecers place greater emphasis on climate and environmental protection.

The survey findings suggest that Canadians are open to a foreign policy that is both principled and pragmatic: one that champions climate action and democratic values, while also pursuing economic resilience and security partnerships. There is also a caution embedded in the data. Global goodwill is not permanent. It is shaped by policy choices, international behaviour, and consistency over time. Canada’s strong reputation has endured, but it cannot be taken for granted — especially in a world where influence is increasingly contested. In other words, taking the world too much as it is, not how we wish it to be, may have long term consequences to our global reputation beyond our short-term strategic interests.

Have Your Say

The Canadian International Council (CIC), in partnership with GlobeScan, is continuing to collect Canadian perspectives on foreign policy priorities and global engagement as part of this research.

If you have views on how Canada should navigate today’s global challenges, we encourage you to take part in the survey, which is live until Friday 23 January. Your input will contribute to ongoing analysis and future public reporting on how Canadians see our country’s role in the world, to be published later this year.

To access the survey in English click here: https://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/0/p962572792600.aspx 

To read the full report: https://thecic.org/reports/