New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for stronger ties with his “trusted allies” in Europe and reaffirmed his country’s support for Ukraine during a visit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Carney’s statements come at a time of heightened tensions between Canada and its US neighbour, following the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.
Trump has announced unprecedented import tariffs on Canadian products and repeatedly expressed his desire to transform Canada into his country’s 51st state.
Carney is currently making his first trip abroad as head of government to France and the UK. Normally, Canadian prime ministers reserve their first foreign visits for their American neighbours, but due to the strained relations with Trump, Carney decided to do things differently.
During his visit, Carney emphasised that France and Canada must strengthen their cooperation “to protect our security, that of our allies, and that of the whole world.”
Enhancing diplomatic ties will allow them to “better navigate this increasingly unstable and dangerous world” and create new “opportunities for our entrepreneurs,” he added.
Macron, in turn, stressed that “balanced” international trade was “undoubtedly more effective than tariffs, which cause inflation and harm production chains and the integration of our economies.”
The two leaders further expressed their shared desire to continue supporting Ukraine and security in Europe, as the US threatens to withdraw from the region and directly negotiate peace in Ukraine with Russia, which invaded its neighbour in February 2022.
