Carney Affirms Canada’s Sovereignty as European Tour Concludes
Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Sovereignty as European Tour Concludes
Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized Canada’s ability to stand up for its sovereignty in response to U.S. annexation rhetoric as he wrapped up his first international trip.
During his European visit, Carney met with King Charles and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London after earlier discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
When asked about U.S. President Donald Trump’s continued insistence that Canada should become the 51st state, Carney dismissed the notion.
“I don’t think one needs to respond to every comment about another country,” he said. “Canada is strong—we can stand up for ourselves. We’ve called out those comments. They’re disrespectful, they’re not helpful, and they need to stop.”
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties
Carney stated that the primary focus of his trip was to reinforce economic and security partnerships with France and the U.K. While King Charles has not explicitly addressed Canada’s sovereignty in response to Trump’s rhetoric, he has made symbolic gestures of support, such as wearing Canadian medals during a military event, planting a red maple tree at Buckingham Palace, and gifting a ceremonial sword to Canada’s senior parliamentary protocol officer.
Carney had a private audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace before meeting with Starmer. During their exchange, Carney humorously explained that he lost his Order of Canada pin when it broke on the tarmac upon arrival, prompting the King to jokingly offer his own—a gesture Carney declined, saying, “I’m not of that rank.”
Meeting with Starmer
Following his meeting with King Charles, Carney visited 10 Downing Street to discuss shared priorities with Starmer. Carney described the Canada-U.K. diplomatic relationship as “remarkable,” highlighting their close security cooperation within the G7 framework.
“We’re at a point in history where the world is being reordered,” Carney said, emphasizing the importance of seamless collaboration between the two nations. Starmer, in turn, thanked Canada for its continued support of Ukraine.
A statement from Starmer’s office later described Canada and the U.K. as “the closest of sovereign allies and friends.”
Engagement with Macron
Earlier in the day, Carney visited the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral before meeting with Macron for a private lunch at the Élysée Palace. Speaking in French, Carney stressed the importance of strengthening ties with France, calling Canada “the most European of non-European countries.”
Addressing global instability, Carney highlighted the need for deeper diplomatic ties and reassured Macron that Canada remains a “reliable, trustworthy, and strong partner of France.”
Macron echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their shared commitment to fair trade, climate action, and democracy. Without naming Trump directly, Macron criticized protectionist trade policies, arguing that tariffs imposed on allies “create inflation and disrupt supply chains.”
Expanding Security and Intelligence Cooperation
Carney and Macron also announced a new Canada-France security partnership, focusing on intelligence sharing and cybersecurity. The agreement will address threats related to violent extremism, espionage, sabotage, and emerging technologies.
Carney concluded his European trip by thanking Macron for France’s leadership in organizing key discussions on Ukraine.
Looking Ahead
With his first international tour as prime minister complete, Carney is set to return to Canada, making a stop in Iqaluit before resuming duties in Ottawa.
