CNN
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Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, broke with custom on Monday by visiting Europe slightly than america for his first overseas journey because the nation’s chief, together with his heat welcome in France and the UK standing in stark distinction to his nation’s fracturing relationship with its southern neighbor.
Carney was welcomed to Paris by a cheerful President Emmanuel Macron earlier than arriving in London the place he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and had a personal viewers with King Charles III, who’s each Britain and Canada’s head of state.
Switching between French and English at a joint information convention on the Élysée Palace, Carney – who took workplace on Friday and is thought to many European leaders for his years as a central banker – informed Macron that Canada is “essentially the most European of non-European international locations” and promised to be a “dependable, reliable and robust companion” to Paris.
Macron praised Canada for standing “side-by-side” with France and Europe, saying of Carney: “We’re welcoming a buddy, and we’re receiving you with quite a lot of pleasure.”
Carney’s amicable reception in Europe comes whereas Canada’s relations with america are at a nadir in fashionable occasions – pushing Canada to consider reshaping its alliances. Since returning to the White Home, Trump has slapped punishing tariffs on Canada’s financial system, stated the nation ought to develop into America’s 51st state and routinely belittled Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau earlier than he stepped down by referring to him as “governor” slightly than “prime minister.”
Talking following his assembly with King Charles, Carney described Trump’s plan to annex Canada as “unthinkable” and “disrespectful” and stated the US president wanted to cease such feedback “earlier than we sit down and have a dialog about our broader partnership.”
He additionally disclosed that the nation was reconsidering whether or not to buy US-supplied F-35 jets, and stated he had spoken with each UK and French officers about deepening safety, army and financial ties.
Nevertheless, he additionally signaled a readiness to speak with Washington, saying Canada wished to speak in regards to the two nations’ “total industrial and safety relationship.”
“When america is able to have that dialog, we’re greater than prepared to take a seat down,” Carney stated in London.
Carney – who has by no means earlier than held public workplace in Canada – will lead the Liberal Occasion into the nation’s subsequent federal election, to be held later this yr.
Earlier than Trump returned to energy, Canada’s Liberals – in energy for practically a decade – appeared bereft of vitality and concepts, with polls displaying them on monitor for a heavy defeat to the Conservatives, led by the firebrand Pierre Poilievre.
However Trump’s threats towards Canada’s financial system and sovereignty have stirred a rare revival of the Liberals and can make the election way more aggressive than it appeared set to be simply weeks in the past.
Since Friday, Carney has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about Russia’s struggle in Ukraine, and with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen about Brussels’ plans to fund Europe’s rearmament within the face of dwindling and unsure US army assist.
At Monday’s information convention in Paris, Carney lauded Macron as a “man of motion” who has helped steer the continent throughout its safety disaster.
“Within the midst of a disaster one should act. Sadly, we’re in the course of an financial and geopolitical disaster. However while you take motion it’s a must to have values: sovereignty, solidarity, dynamism and sustainability. These values are near our hearts,” Carney stated.
In London, Carney stated he had invited Zelensky to the G7 summit that Canada is internet hosting in Alberta this yr.
Carney is a well-recognized face to many in the UK, having served as governor of the Financial institution of England from 2013 to 2020, overseeing its protracted restoration from the 2008 monetary disaster and leaving on the cusp of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout that point, Carney was criticized by some – significantly on the correct – for warning repeatedly that leaving the European Union would injury Britain’s financial system.
