PARIS:
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Monday that his nation was in search of to bolster ties with “dependable” European allies, as he launched into a transatlantic journey after his nation’s economic system and even sovereignty got here below unprecedented risk from its southern neighbour the USA.
Carney, the previous Financial institution of England governor who succeeded Justin Trudeau final week, conspicuously selected key Europe powers France and the UK, fairly than the USA, for his first overseas visits after President Donald Trump ramped up the rhetoric towards Canada.
Describing Canada because the “most European of non-European international locations”, Carney stated his nation wanted to spice up ties with European allies like France whereas making an attempt to retain constructive relations with the USA.
“It’s extra necessary than ever for Canada to bolster its ties with dependable allies like France,” Carney stated throughout a press convention with President Emmanuel Macron on the Elysee Palace on his first journey overseas since turning into prime minister on Friday.
“I need to be sure that France and the entire of Europe works enthusiastically with Canada, probably the most European of non-European international locations, decided such as you to keep up probably the most constructive attainable relations with the USA,” Carney stated.
Carney faces threats on three fronts: a commerce battle with the Washington, Trump’s threats to annex his nation, and looming home elections.
Trump’s imposition of an escalating raft of import tariffs on Canadian items has threatened to set off a recession, and his scorn for Canadian sovereignty despatched jitters via the previous ally.
Opinion polls present a big majority of Canadian voters reject Trump’s argument that their nation could be higher off because the “51st state of the USA”.
However the commerce battle is a risk to the economic system of the huge nation of 41 million folks, which has lengthy loved a detailed US partnership.
Canada, France and Britain are among the many NATO members which have maintained robust help for Ukraine’s beleaguered authorities and army since Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022, whilst Trump’s US administration has bullied Kyiv to make concessions to Moscow.
London and Paris are placing collectively plans for a coalition safety drive in Ukraine and on the lookout for allies.
Canada and France need a “strong and lasting peace, accompanied by strong ensures that may shield Ukraine towards any additional Russian aggression and make sure the safety of the entire of Europe,” Macron stated alongside Carney.
“It’s on this spirit that we are going to keep our help for Ukraine and proceed to demand clear commitments from Russia,” he added.
Carney informed Macron each nations stood for “sovereignty”.
“We each stand for sovereignty and safety demonstrated by our unwavering help for Ukraine below your management,” the Canadian premier stated, two days after each leaders took half in a Saturday morning video convention of nations backing Ukraine organised by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
France is Canada’s Eleventh-largest buying and selling companion and Britain its third at a time when Trump’s tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures are threatening commerce with its large southern neighbour — vacation spot of three-quarters of Canada’s exports.
However Canada additionally has a “Complete Financial and Commerce Settlement” with the European Union, which incorporates France, and is a member of the Complete and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which now additionally contains Britain.
After Paris, Carney heads for London, the place he as soon as labored as governor of the Financial institution of England, for talks with Starmer and King Charles III, the monarch who’s head of state in each Britain and Canada.
In his first speech as prime minister, Carney stated: “Safety is a precedence for this authorities, reinforcing our safety, as is diversifying our buying and selling and business relationships, in fact, with each Europe and the UK.”
On his return leg, Carney will contact down in Iqaluit in Nunavut, the Canadian territory closest to the Danish autonomous nation of Greenland — one other Trump goal for annexation — to “reaffirm Canada’s Arctic safety and sovereignty”.