Amid Trump Tensions, Canada’s Carney Seeks Support From European Allies
PARIS — Canada’s new Prime Minister arrived in Paris on Monday to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, seeking backing from one of Canada’s long-standing allies as U.S. President Donald Trump continues his assaults on Canadian sovereignty and.
This marks Carney’s inaugural official overseas trip since assuming office on March 14. His next stop is London, where he is scheduled to meet with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, Canada’s head of state.
Why Paris and London?
Carney strategically chose the two European capitals that played a significant role in Canada’s early history. During his inauguration, he emphasized that the country was founded on the principles of three cultures: French, English, and Indigenous, stressing Canada’s fundamental difference from the United States and stating it would “never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States.”
Since came to power, he has implemented substantial and consistently, triggering widespread anger among Canadians and leading to calls for a boycott of U.S. goods nationwide. He is also threatening to impose tariffs on all Canadian products starting April 2.
On Monday, a senior Canadian government official briefed reporters anonymously aboard the plane en route to pick up Carney in Montreal. The official explained that the trip aims to reinforce partnerships with London and Paris, adding that Canada is a “good friend of the United States but we all know what is going on.”
Before his meeting with Macron at the Palais de l’Élysée, Carney will visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Macron is not expected to hold a joint press conference with Carney, which suggests the French president may be hesitant to publicly support Canada and risk upsetting Trump.
Before heading back to Ottawa on Tuesday, Carney will journey to the edge of Canada’s Arctic to “reaffirm Canada’s Arctic security and sovereignty.”
“Prime Minister Carney’s choice of itinerary for his first official trip highlights Canada’s strong ties to the Arctic, as well as its enduring connections to the two former colonial powers through the Commonwealth on the U.K. side and La Francophonie on the France side,” explained Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.
“The fact that Canada never violently separated from the U.K. is a crucial historical and institutional distinction between the United States and Canada, a constitutional monarchy with a U.K.-style parliamentary system rather than a republic.”
The London visit will be a return of sorts for Carney, who made history as the first non-British governor of the Bank of England in its 319-year history, a position he held from July 1, 2013, to March 15, 2020.
No Washington trip planned
Carney, a former central banker who celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday, has stated if he demonstrates respect for Canadian sovereignty. He currently has no plans to visit Washington but hopes to speak with the president by phone soon. His government is also reassessing the fighter jets in light of Trump’s trade disputes.
Meanwhile, Macron is intensifying his efforts to encourage France’s allies to reduce their reliance on American military equipment purchases. This aligns with Canada’s reconsideration of the F-35s, and also addresses growing concerns in Europe about an over-reliance on U.S. weaponry, technical support, and goodwill for European defense.
Carney spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a call on Sunday evening and extended an invitation to the G7 summit this summer, which Canada is hosting. Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday as part of his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Carney is anticipated to announce an election by the end of the week, with the vote scheduled for late April or early May. Canada’s ruling Liberal Party appeared headed for a historic defeat this year until Trump initiated his economic conflict. Now, the party and its new leader may emerge victorious.
___
Associated Press writers John Leicester in Paris and Danica Kirka in London contributed this report.