President Obama and Canadian PM Trudeau Hold First Formal Meeting in Manila

US President Barack Obama held bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the APEC summit came to an end in Manila on November 19, in the first formal meeting since Trudeau won power last month. Security, coalition strikes against Islamic State, refugees, trade and the economy were topics discussed by the pair.

During a joint press conference following the meeting, President Obama said, “We’ve seen the incredible excitement that Justin generated with his campaign in Canada. I’m confident that he’s going to be able to provide a great boost of energy and reform to the Canadian political landscape.”

Prime Minister Trudeau moved to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to the coalition strikes against Islamic State in the Middle East, saying that Canada would continue to be a “strong member of the military coalition combating ISIS."

“That’s what I reassured the president about and that’s what we’re going to be continuing to be engaging with, going to be discussing further the best ways Canada can move forward,” the prime minister said.

“This is a problem without a quick solution and we shouldn’t be pretending it is,” Trudeau said of the threat posed by Islamic State. Credit: YouTube/White House