CMEDIA: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly arrived in Paris Monday to meet with Canada’s oldest allies, French President Emmanuel Macron, seeking support amid U.S. trade war.
“It is more important than ever for Canada to strengthen its ties with its reliable allies, such as France,” Carney said in French before meeting with Macron in Paris.
While describing Canada as the “most European of non-European countries,” Carney told Macron he is “determined, like you, 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…Canada is a reliable, trustworthy and strong partner of France, which shares our values…this age of economic and geopolitical crisis.”
Being Carney’s first official foreign trip since he was sworn in on March 14, he will next land in London where he will sit down with the U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles and will also stop in Iqaluit on his way home.
Macron said Paris’ diplomatic relationship with Canada such as the defence of democracy and the “development for fair trade and protection of the planet” supports the values of both countries.
“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…destroy the integration of our economies…We are receiving you and welcoming you as a friend with great joy and forming a lot of ambition and many projects together,” he added.
Carney’s choice of the two European capital cities that shaped Canada’s early existence was made clear when he noted during his swearing-in ceremony that Canada was built on the bedrock of three peoples — French, English and Indigenous — and added Canada is fundamentally different from America and will “never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States.”
Carney felt that the trip to London will be a bit of a homecoming, as he became the first non-British governor in the Bank of England’s 319-year history.
Carney, a former central banker has said he’s ready to meet with Trump if he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty. His government is also reviewing the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets in light of Trump’s trade war.
Meanwhile, efforts to persuade France’s allies to move away from purchases of American military hardware have been revamped by Macron.
