Portrait of Justin Trudeau
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Justin Trudeau on Relations with Joe Biden

Close ally and friend (strong)

Justin Trudeau regarded his relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden as a partnership between close allies, frequently emphasizing the enduring friendship between Canada and the United States.

Following Trudeau's resignation in 2025, Biden offered a glowing review, describing Trudeau as a man who left the bilateral relationship stronger and the world better off, underscoring their joint work on issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and supporting Ukraine.

Throughout their time in office together, Trudeau and Biden maintained close contact, coordinating on shared priorities such as clean energy investments, bolstering supply chains, and security cooperation, including in the Arctic.

Context

Justin Trudeau’s time as Prime Minister involved navigating the critical Canada-U.S. relationship, which is deeply intertwined economically and strategically. Joe Biden’s presidency marked a return to a more traditional, aligned approach compared to his predecessor, making the relationship a cornerstone of Trudeau’s foreign policy.

Trudeau’s success in foreign relations often hinged on maintaining a positive rapport with the sitting U.S. president, given the shared border, massive trade volume, and continental security arrangements.

Timeline

  1. Trudeau and Biden met at the Summit of the Americas where they discussed threats to democracy and economic hardships.
  2. The leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their historic alliance and commitment to shared security, prosperity, and democratic values, explicitly mentioning cooperation on clean energy and fighting climate change.
  3. Trudeau voiced strong support for Biden's leadership on the world stage during the NATO summit, despite domestic criticism of Biden.
  4. Following Trudeau's announcement of resignation, Biden praised him, stating the bilateral relationship was stronger because of Trudeau and their shared accomplishments.

Actions Taken

  1. Diplomatic meeting
    Met on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit to discuss furthering the enduring friendship, trade, clean energy, and support for Ukraine.
  2. Bilateral agreement documentation
    Issued a joint statement outlining progress under the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, focusing on clean energy, supply chains, and critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
  3. Security coordination
    Agreed to remain in close contact and underlined the importance of strengthening continental and Arctic defence.

Key Quotes

We are lucky on the world stage to have Joe Biden leading here at NATO on the G7 uh. in some extraordinarily consequential times depth of experience his thoughtfulness his steadfastness on the greatest issues and challenges of our time is a credit to the work that we're all doing together.

NATO Summit remarks July 11, 2024 — Trudeau expressed strong support for Biden's global leadership during a summit.

We've stood together with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression to defend our nations' most sacred value: freedom.

Statement following Trudeau's resignation January 7, 2025 — Biden referenced shared efforts with Trudeau, including support for Ukraine.

Related Positions

  • Trade and USMCA Trudeau and Biden worked to build on the USMCA, reflecting on the trade relationship that creates jobs for the middle class.
  • Support for Ukraine Both leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine as it resists Russian aggression.
  • Clean Energy and Climate Change The leaders highlighted joint efforts, such as Canada's Emissions Reduction Plan and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, to lead the clean energy future.