New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to visit Paris and London on Monday to strengthen alliances in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Canada’s sovereignty and economy.
Carney has intentionally chosen these two capitals for his first foreign trip, as they played significant roles in shaping Canada’s early history. During his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Carney emphasized that Canada was built on the foundation of three peoples: French, English, and Indigenous. He also reaffirmed that Canada is distinct from the United States and will never, under any circumstances, become part of it.
According to Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, the “Trump factor” is central to Carney’s decision to make this trip, as it looms over all other issues he must address.
Carney, who turned 60 on Sunday and is a former central banker, will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday before heading to London for discussions with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The goal is to diversify trade and potentially coordinate a response to Trump’s tariffs.
He will also have a meeting with King Charles III, the head of state in Canada. The visit to England holds special significance for Carney, as it marks somewhat of a homecoming. He previously served as the governor of the Bank of England, making history as the first noncitizen to hold the position in the bank’s over 300-year history.
Carney will then head to the northernmost part of Canada to “reaffirm Canada’s Arctic security and sovereignty” before returning to Ottawa, where he is expected to call for an election in the coming days.
Carney has stated that he is open to meeting with Trump, but only if the U.S. president respects Canada’s sovereignty. While he does not plan to visit Washington at this time, Carney hopes to have a phone conversation with Trump soon.
Trump’s 25% tariffs and his comments about making Canada the 51st U.S. state have caused significant anger among Canadians, many of whom are now avoiding American products whenever possible.
Carney’s government is currently reviewing the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets due to the ongoing trade war with Trump.
The governing Liberal Party was expected to face a historic election defeat this year, but Trump’s declaration of an economic war and his repeated comments suggesting Canada should become the 51st state have shifted the political landscape. Now, the party and its new leader may emerge victorious.
Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto, believes Carney is right not to visit Trump. He pointed out that, based on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s experience, meetings with Trump only lead to attempts at humiliating guests. Bothwell also noted that it’s impossible to have a rational conversation with someone who continuously repeats falsehoods.
According to Bothwell, Trump demands respect, but often expects others to sacrifice their self-respect in order to bend to his will.
Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University, emphasized the importance of Canada diversifying its trade in the midst of the ongoing trade war with the U.S. More than 75% of Canada’s exports currently go to the United States.
Béland stated that Arctic sovereignty is another critical issue for Canada.
He explained that President Trump’s aggressive remarks about both Canada and Greenland, coupled with the growing cooperation between Russia—a dominant Arctic power—and the United States under Trump, have heightened concerns about Canada’s control over this remote yet strategically important region.
