Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump’s hard power doctrine alienates allies and sets a destabilizing precedent

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Rudyard and Andrew react to Trump’s 2025 national security doctrine being put into action this past weekend with the US military operation in Venezuela and the abduction of its president Nicolas Maduro. Both hosts agree this was not about restoring democracy. Trump’s use of hard power while dismantling the country’s soft power and sources of genuine American strength is a backward, simplistic and adolescent view of American power. It is a foreign policy that supposes the 19th century great power competition model is most conducive to American interests. Rudyard and Andrew unpack different public reactions to this military raid – specifically from the leaders of Mexico and Denmark – and explain why it is in Canada’s interest to draw a line in the sand and stand firmly against our southern neighbour. In the final moments of the show they discuss Pierre Poilievre’s political future as he continues to trail in the polls behind Mark Carney. Will his lack of discipline and vocal support of Trump’s military raid hurt his leadership aspirations?