Foreign Minister Heiko Maas visited New York, Toronto, and the Canadian Arctic from 12 to 16 August 2019. The trip addressed several of the key and pressing matters of our time, ranging from the protection of humanitarian actors in conflict areas to trade multilateralism and the protection of the environment. After a speech at the UN on the indispensable Geneva Convention, the agenda in Canada covered multilateralism and international trade as well as the social and geological impact of climate change.

GIGA President Amrita Narlikar was invited to be part of the delegation. She shares the Minister’s concern for the future of multilateralism and offered her expertise as a trade and negotiations scholar. She supports Maas’s initiative to foster an alliance of multilateralist countries and strengthen international trade. Prof. Narlikar said the trip showed skilled German diplomacy and inspired lively debate; she was honoured to be part of this initiative. Prof. Narlikar thanked the Minister and his team for their vital and timely work.