As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to attack Canada's sovereignty and economy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Paris Monday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, seeking support from one of Canada's oldest allies. This is Carney's first official foreign trip since he was sworn in on March 14. Next, he will visit London to talk with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles. Carney will also stop in Iqaluit on his way home.
Before meeting Macron in Paris, Carney told reporters "It is more important than ever for Canada to strengthen its ties with its reliable allies, such as France." When the two leaders met, Carney described Canada as the "most European of non-European countries," yet he emphasized that he is "determined to maintain the most positive possible relations with the United States."
"We must strengthen our diplomatic ties to address a world that is increasingly unstable and dangerous," Carney added. "Canada is a reliable, trustworthy, and strong partner of France, which shares our values and lives them through action, during this economic and geopolitical crisis age."
Macron said that diplomatic relationships with Canada support the values both countries hold dear, such as the defense of democracy and the "development for fair trade and protection of the planet."
"We believe that fair trade that respects international rules is a good thing for everyone's prosperity," Macron said. "It's far more effective than tariffs that simply create inflation and destroy the integration of our economies and our supply chains."
"We are receiving you and welcoming you as a friend with great joy and forming of a lot of ambition and many projects together," he added.
As the Associated Press explains, Carney has deliberately chosen the two European nations that shaped Canada's early existence to visit on his first international trip. It was during his swearing-in ceremony that he noted the country was built on the bedrock of three peoples — French, English and Indigenous — and said Canada is fundamentally different from America and will "never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States."
Since Trump came to office, he has repeatedly commented on turning Canada into the 51st state and has imposed whopping tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, infuriating Canadians and sparking an unprecedented boycott of U.S. products across the country. Trump is even threatening to impose tariffs on all Canadian products on April 2.
Carney also visited and lit candles at the Notre-Dame Cathedral before meeting with Macron at the Palais de l'Élysée.
After Paris Carney will travel to London for a brief visit that feels a bit of a homecoming, as Carney became the first non-British governor in the Bank of England's 319-year history when he took over the top job on July 1, 2013. He served until March 15, 2020.
Finally, before returning to Ottawa on Tuesday, Carney will travel to Iqaluit to "reaffirm Canada's Arctic security and sovereignty and to emphasize the strong connection of Canada with the Arctic as well as with the two former colonial powers Canada remains attached to, through the Commonwealth on the U.K. side and La Francophonie on the France side".
No Washington trip has been planned as the former central banker who turned 60 on Sunday, has said he's ready to meet with Trump if he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty.
Also, it should be noted that Carney has asked his government to review the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets in light of Trump's trade war, while Macron has been ramping up efforts to persuade France's allies to move away from purchases of American military hardware.
In other news, the new Canadian Prime Minister spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a call late Sunday and invited him to the G7 summit this summer, which Canada is hosting. Carney is expected to call an election by the end of the week, to take place in late April or early May.
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