66Received 28.06.2023. Revised 31.07.2023. Accepted 10.11.2023.
Abstract. Canada, despite its geographical location in North America, following its closest allies, mainly the USA, seeks to strengthen its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Canadian Government sees significant opportunities for the development of its economic, diplomatic and military potential. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, announced in 2022, has become the doctrinal basis of this policy, systematizing it in three key areas – economic, military and humanitarian. The article examines the issue of the transformation of the terminology base used, the regional Strategy of Canada as a mid-ranking power in the Indo-Pacific region, the main directions of its policy, and analyzes its doctrinal design with regard to the presence of goals, objectives, risks and threats in the Strategy. The author also focuses on the “anti-Chinese” aspect of the Strategy as a combination of diplomatic, economic and military means of the Canadian “containment” policy toward the Communist Party of China, whose growing influence, according to the Canadian political circles and the expert community, carries risks for regional stability and security, for a regional order based on rules and regulations. The study shows that in the long term, the priorities of Canada’s Strategy in the Indo-Pacific are updating the system of bilateral economic, diplomatic and defense agreements, as well as supporting the defense potential of partner countries. At the same time, despite the desire to strengthen its military presence in the region, the expansion of economic and trade development with regional actors will remain a key aspect of Canada’s policy.
Keywords: Canada, Indo-Pacific region, Indo-Pacific Strategy, China, economic cooperation, military presence, humanitarian policy
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