BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney intensified his effort to strengthen Canada’s ties with Europe on Saturday, using a visit to Ireland to argue that medium-sized nations should work together rather than compete for influence with the United States in an increasingly divided global landscape.
Speaking at Trinity College in Dublin ahead of next week’s Group of Seven summit, Carney outlined a vision in which countries such as Canada and members of the European Union deepen their cooperation to create what he described as a powerful alternative in a world increasingly shaped by rivalry among major powers.
Carney said the combined population of Canada and the European Union is more than double that of the United States. Together, he noted, they possess an economy comparable in size to America’s and a collective defense budget that exceeds that of China. Those strengths, he argued, demonstrate the potential for middle-power nations to amplify their global influence through strategic partnerships and shared values.
“In a world of great power rivalry, middle powers have a choice — to compete for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact,” Carney said.
The remarks echoed themes he raised earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he warned that the post-Cold War rules-based international order was under increasing strain. At that gathering, Carney criticized the growing use of economic and political pressure by larger nations against smaller countries and called for a new framework of cooperation among democracies.
His latest European tour comes at a significant moment for Canadian foreign policy. Carney met Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Dublin on Saturday after holding talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday. The meetings took place just days before leaders of the world’s major industrialized democracies gather for the G7 summit beginning Monday in France.
The Canadian leader has made strengthening relations with Europe a central element of his international strategy. Since taking office 15 months ago, this marks his ninth visit to Europe, highlighting the importance his government places on expanding political, economic, and security ties across the continent.
At a joint appearance with Martin, Carney described Europe as a crucial partner in shaping the future international order.
“The new world order will be built starting with Europe,” he said. “Canada is the most European of non-European countries. We are transforming our cooperation with Europe.”
Carney portrayed Canada and the European Union as a major force in global affairs, emphasizing their combined economic, technological, cultural, financial, and military capabilities. He argued that both share a commitment to democratic values, human rights, pluralism, and respect for human dignity, principles that he said are increasingly important in a time of geopolitical uncertainty.
“Canada and Europe are a force for good because we safeguard the values of human rights, dignity and pluralism that our people hold dear,” Carney said.
The growing partnership has already produced tangible results. Earlier this year, Canada became the first country outside Europe to join the SAFE defense procurement mechanism, an initiative designed to strengthen cooperation in military acquisitions and defense capabilities among participating nations. Carney also pointed to Canada’s expanding role in critical minerals development, noting that the country has established dozens of partnerships across Europe and other allied nations to secure supplies of strategic resources essential to advanced manufacturing and clean-energy technologies.
The diplomatic outreach comes as Canada continues to navigate a complex relationship with the United States under President Donald Trump. Trade tensions remain a significant source of uncertainty despite the deep economic integration that has linked the two countries for decades.
Attention is increasingly turning toward the scheduled July 1 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the trade pact that replaced NAFTA and governs commerce across North America. Trump recently suggested that he may not renew the agreement, raising concerns among businesses and investors throughout the region.
Carney sought to reassure observers that major changes to the agreement are unlikely. He noted that U.S. officials have repeatedly indicated they do not intend to alter the core structure of the trade framework.
“The U.S. has been clear. They don’t want to change the fundamental architecture,” Carney said.
He emphasized that approximately 85 percent of Canadian exports entering the United States remain tariff-free under the agreement. According to Carney, any effort to fundamentally rewrite the trade deal would require congressional approval, a step he suggested the White House is reluctant to pursue.
Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc is expected to hold discussions with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during the G7 summit in an effort to address ongoing trade concerns and explore avenues for continued cooperation.
Despite those planned talks, prospects for a major breakthrough appear limited. American officials indicated that while communication between Ottawa and Washington remains active, no significant announcements are expected during the summit.
The Trump administration has nevertheless welcomed some recent Canadian policy decisions. U.S. officials pointed to Ottawa’s move to reverse a regulatory measure that would have required foreign streaming platforms to contribute part of their Canadian revenues toward supporting local news and cultural programming, describing the change as a positive development in bilateral relations.
Even so, Trump has continued to question the value of economic ties with Canada, recently repeating his claim that the United States does not need Canadian products. Those comments have reinforced concerns in Ottawa about the long-term reliability of the relationship and have strengthened Carney’s determination to diversify Canada’s economic partnerships.
The prime minister has set an ambitious goal of doubling Canada’s exports to markets outside the United States over the next decade. He argues that trade disputes and uncertainty generated by U.S. policies have discouraged investment and highlighted the risks of excessive dependence on a single trading partner.
Ireland has emerged as an enthusiastic supporter of Canada’s renewed European focus. Martin praised Carney’s efforts to deepen engagement with Europe and pledged Irish support for closer cooperation between Ottawa and Brussels.
“Prime Minister Carney has spoken with great clarity and conviction about Canada’s desire to deepen its engagement with Europe,” Martin said. “Ireland warmly and unreservedly welcomes that ambition, and we will do what we can to strengthen relations between the European Union and Canada during our forthcoming presidency.”
Ireland is set to assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in July, a position that could provide additional opportunities to advance Canada-EU cooperation at a time when both sides are seeking stronger partnerships in trade, defense, technology, and global diplomacy.
As world leaders prepare to gather for the G7 summit, Carney’s message has been clear: Canada intends to strengthen its place within a broader network of democratic allies and reduce its dependence on the United States, positioning itself as a key partner in what he believes will be a new era of international cooperation centered around Europe and other like-minded nations.
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