Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney began his first international trip on Monday, aiming to strengthen ties with Europe while preparing for potential cooperation with the Trump administration.
His itinerary includes meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, as well as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III in London.
Carney is set to return to Canada on Tuesday, traveling to Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, in a move to “reassert Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic” and advance reconciliation efforts with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. His office emphasized that the trip seeks to reinforce Canada’s long-standing economic and security partnerships while affirming Arctic sovereignty.
As he has yet to face a federal election—expected by October—Carney is also working to establish his domestic presence. On Sunday, just two days after taking office, he celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Montreal while also meeting with Quebec Premier François Legault to discuss reducing temporary immigration and improving trade with the EU ahead of future U.S. negotiations. He also spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about economic issues and connected with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on defense matters, calling for Russia to engage in ceasefire talks.
While no formal meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump have been announced, Carney has pledged future cooperation with the U.S. after his swearing-in.
Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, highlighted the strong economic ties between the two nations, emphasizing Canada’s role as America’s largest trading partner and the importance of continued dialogue.
