Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is wasting no time in strengthening alliances with France and the UK as he faces growing tensions with Donald Trump over Canada’s sovereignty and economy. Making his first foreign trip as leader, Carney is deliberately heading to Paris and London—two nations deeply tied to Canada’s history.
During his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, he emphasized the country’s unique identity, declaring that Canada will “never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States”, as reported by AP News. Before picking up Carney in Montreal, a senior government official told reporters that this trip was about solidifying ties with Canada’s “founding countries” amid mounting concerns over US relations. “We’re a good friend of the United States, but we all know what is going on,” the official said.
Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, made it clear that the looming presence of Trump is driving the urgency of Carney’s trip. “The Trump factor towers over everything else Carney must deal with,” he said.
Carney, who turned 60 on Sunday, will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris before heading to London for talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. A major focus will be on diversifying trade partnerships and possibly coordinating a joint response to Trump’s aggressive tariffs.
He will also meet with King Charles III, a nod to his UK ties as the former Governor of the Bank of England—the first non-citizen ever to hold the role in its 300-year history. Following his European meetings, Carney will travel to Canada’s Arctic to reaffirm the country’s sovereignty over the region before returning to Ottawa, where he is expected to call an election within days.
While Carney has expressed a willingness to meet Trump, he made it clear that such a meeting would only happen if the US President respected Canada’s sovereignty. For now, he has no plans to visit Washington but hopes to arrange a phone call with Trump soon.
Trump’s escalating trade war—including sweeping 25% tariffs—has sparked outrage across Canada. His repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st state have only fuelled tensions, with many Canadians now actively avoiding American-made goods.
Carney’s government is also reassessing the purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets in response to Trump’s economic hostility. The Liberal Party, once expected to face a crushing defeat in the upcoming election, now sees a potential comeback, fuelled by Canadian resistance to Trump’s economic policies.
Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations, said Carney was smart to avoid a visit to Trump’s White House. “There’s no point in going to Washington,” he said, pointing to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s treatment at the hands of Trump. “All that results in is a crude attempt by Trump to humiliate his guests.”
Bothwell added that Trump demands respect from other nations, “but it’s often a one-way street, asking others to set aside their self-respect to bend to his will.” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University, warned that Canada must move fast to diversify its trade, as 75% of its exports currently go to the US.
He also pointed out that Arctic sovereignty is becoming an increasing concern. “Trump’s aggressive talk about both Canada and Greenland, along with the growing ties between Russia and the US, has heightened anxieties over our control of this remote yet strategic region.”
As Carney embarks on this diplomatic mission, his challenge is clear—steer Canada away from economic dependence on the US and resist Trump’s efforts to undermine the country’s sovereignty.
