Urgent need to co-operate against terrorism — APEC leaders

In their first formal meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to disagree over Islamic State air strikes while presenting a united front to boost clean-energy production after the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Declaring he intends to reclaim Canada’s “compassionate and constructive voice”, Trudeau said before he was elected that he meant to be “pushing back against the bully that is Vladimir Putin”.

The situation clearly had Mr. Trudeau’s security detail nervous as they rushed the Prime Minister through hundreds of people in order to exit the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit media centre.

His platform has produced a few sticking points with the U.S. though, particularly their pledge to pull out their modest contingent of 6 CF-18 jets from the war against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Recently seen in Canada trick-or-treating with his wife and young children, Trudeau is 26 years younger than the Sultan of Brunei, at 69 the eldest of the 21 leaders of APEC, which is meeting in the Philippine capital this week.

The Liberal government has promised to consult with Canadians on the massive trade pact and put it to a vote in Parliament.

Trudeau and Obama were also expected to formally discuss a host of other issues at their meeting, including the refugee crisis, transpacific trade and climate change.

“Canada will continue to work with our coalition partners to ensure that we are doing what we can, including militarily to degrade and defeat ISIL over the long haul”, Trudeau said, using another commonly used acronym for the militant group. He said he had reassured the USA president about Canada’s continuous support for the mission.

“So young and yet so cynical”, an amused Trudeau responded.

Obama echoed that, saying he was “glad” for both countries having “traditional fuels” but that they needed to push more into renewable fuels.

Obama – whose ties with Harper were usually frosty – said he hoped Trudeau would be able to visit him in the White House early next year for more substantial talks.

Obama said he told Trudeau: “Justin, congratulations, you and your family look great”.

“We make no apologies for that, but I also think we have to recognize if we want to preserve this planet for our kids and grandkids, we’re going to have to shift increasingly away from carbon emitting energy sources”, the president said.

“And so if you don’t want to gray like me you need to start dyeing it soon”, Obama said.