PARIS — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in the French capital on Monday to engage in discussions with President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to bolster support from Canada’s longstanding ally amid ongoing tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Carney’s visit to Paris marks his debut international engagement following his inauguration on March 14. His journey will next take him to London, where he is scheduled to meet United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, Canada’s head of state.
The deliberate choice of Paris and London for Carney’s initial international outreach underscores the historical ties that these cities have with Canada’s founding. During his inaugural speech, he emphasized Canada’s foundation on the collaboration of French, English, and Indigenous cultures. Carney firmly stated that Canada is inherently unique from the United States and will “never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States.”
Tensions have flared under Trump’s presidency, marked by hefty tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum—a move compounded by Trump’s provocative remarks regarding making Canada the 51st U.S. state. This rhetoric has angered Canadian citizens and spurred a nationwide movement to boycott American goods. Plans for further tariffs on all Canadian imports are slated for April 2.
A senior Canadian official, speaking under anonymity, briefed journalists before boarding Carney’s airplane in Montreal, highlighting the trip’s goal to strengthen ties with both the U.K. and France. The official acknowledged that, while Canada maintains a friendly relationship with the U.S., the current circumstances are complex.
In Paris, Carney will visit the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral before sitting down with Macron at the Palais de l’Élysée. Macron is, however, unlikely to hold a joint news briefing with Carney, suggesting caution not to strain France’s diplomatic relations with Trump.
Following his European engagements, Carney will travel to the Arctic frontier in Canada to assert the nation’s northern territorial sovereignty and security.
This itinerary reflects Canada’s enduring ties with its former colonial connections, as explained by Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Canada’s evolution from a British colony to a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system contrasts sharply with the U.S.’s path to becoming a republic.
Carney’s visit to London carries personal significance; he previously broke ground as the first non-British governor of the Bank of England in its expansive history from July 1, 2013, to March 15, 2020.
As for U.S. relations, no immediate visit to Washington is on Carney’s agenda. He expressed willingness to meet with Trump, contingent upon respect for Canada’s sovereignty. Plans for a government review of F-35 fighter jet acquisitions from the U.S. are underway, influenced by the economic friction with Trump.
Macron, meanwhile, is urging European nations to reduce reliance on American military assets, aligning with Canada’s considerations regarding the F-35s and Europe’s growing unease about depending on U.S. military support.
In addition, Carney recently conferred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via phone, inviting him to the upcoming G7 summit in Canada this summer. Trump, on the other side, intends to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to push forward peace in Ukraine.
Carney is anticipated to call for an election at the week’s conclusion, likely scheduling it for late April or early May. Prior to Trump’s economic measures against Canada, the governing Liberal Party faced predictions of significant electoral losses; however, the new challenges might reshape its prospects favorably under Carney’s leadership.