Diplomacy in the Trump era poses challenge to world leaders
As the reality of the U.S. election sinks in, leaders from around the world grapple with what diplomacy will look like under a Donald Trump presidency.
Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Norman Spector tells The Current's Friday host Duncan McCue that Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must focus on developing a relationship with the incoming U.S. administration.
"The prime minister now has the responsibility to develop a working relationship with Donald Trump and hopefully Mr. Trump will not, as has been his wont, have a spirit of vengeance", says Spector, who served as chief of staff to former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
This week president-elect Donald Trump held his first meeting with a foreign leader, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York.
And while the official line from countries like Canada, Britain and France has been warm and welcoming, many diplomatic experts say political leaders are entering an unprecedented, unpredictable, and extremely high-stakes era.
The difficulty for world leaders lies in to deciding when to speak out, and when to keep quiet.
Historian and Oxford University professor Margaret MacMillan says international leadership will just have to wait and see what Trump will do as president .
But, "that doesn't mean we shouldn't be worried," says MacMillan.
We have to deal with whoever is president of the United States. What Trump has said during his election campaign and before I think has been worrying. I also worry that he doesn't really have much interest or knowledge in foreign affairs.- Maragret MacMillan
Not everyone thinks cautious diplomacy is the right tactic for dealing with Trump. Irish Senator Aodhán O'Riordáin made a statement criticising the international community for not taking a stand on Trump's incendiary rhetoric.
"America has just selected a fascist. I'm embarrassed by the reaction of the Irish government to what's happened in America. And I don't use the word 'fascist' lightly," says O'Riordáin.
"I am absolutely frightened for what's happening to this world, and what's happening to our inability to stand up against it."
Former Canadian ambassador Michael Bell disagrees, saying he isn't sure that leadership calling Trump fascist, "is going to serve any practical purposes."
"If anything it's going to be counter-productive. "
While Bell acknowledges that many people do not welcome Trump's electoral victory, leaders must be practical in their decision-making.
"One has to try and distinguish between campaign rhetoric and what is likely to be reflected in the policies of Mr. Trump."
Listen to the full conversation.
This segment was produced by The Current's Ines Colabrese, Julian Uzielli and Kristin Nelson.