Yerevan/Armenia/IBNS-CMEDIA: Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Armenia on Friday, marking the first official visit by a Canadian PM to Armenia in nearly a decade since Justin Trudeau‘s 2018 trip.
Carney met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to thank him for hosting the 8th European Political Community (EPC) Summit and discuss strengthening Canada-Armenia ties.
The leaders discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation and reaffirmed bilateral relations, which have expanded in recent years, including the opening of Canada’s embassy in Yerevan in 2023.
On the sidelines of the summit, Carney is expected to meet other heavyweight European leaders to discuss security cooperation, support for Ukraine and economic engagement, particularly in sectors such as critical minerals, energy and advanced technologies.
Carney also met Roberta Metsola, the president of the European Parliament. In a post on X, Metsola described the talks as “a very good discussion” on shared priorities, particularly in defence, trade and artificial intelligence, adding that both sides would continue to build on the engagement.
In a separate meeting, Carney with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, discussed strengthening the Canada-Poland strategic partnership. Carney said the two leaders agreed to “deepen cooperation” in areas including energy, aerospace and defence.
The meeting took place during Carney’s visit to Armenia from May 2 to 4, marking his first official trip to the country.
The summit also represents the first time a non-European leader has participated in the gathering.
(Reporting by Suman Das)
