Carney urges Canada-Europe unity ahead of G7 summit
The Canadian prime minister said “middle powers” should work together as trade, security and global institutions come under strain.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a speech in Dublin to call for closer cooperation between Canada, Ireland and Europe before the Group of Seven summit in France. Carney said countries he described as “middle powers” need to build collective strength as the post-Cold War order weakens, according to Al Jazeera.
Speaking Saturday at Trinity College Dublin, Carney said Canada and Ireland face “a global rupture, not a quiet transition.” Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin attended the launch of the De Chastelain Public Lecture series, where Carney delivered the remarks, Al Jazeera reported.
Carney said multilateral institutions have become weaker and that economic ties once seen as mutually beneficial are being used as tools of pressure. He did not identify any country as responsible for undermining the rules-based order, according to Al Jazeera.
Message aimed at Europe before G7
Carney’s speech came two days before the G7 summit scheduled for June 15 to 17 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Both Carney and US President Donald Trump are expected to attend, Al Jazeera reported.
The Canadian leader’s appeal for cooperation comes during a period of tension between Canada and the United States. Al Jazeera reported that Trump has pressed Canada on sovereignty, trade and immigration since returning to the White House for a second term.
Trump has called for Canada to become the United States’ “51st state,” including in a June 1 social media post, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet also reported that Trump has used tariffs to push Canada toward US positions on trade and immigration.
Carney framed Canada, Ireland and Europe as partners that can respond jointly to security, economic and environmental pressures. He said they are “increasingly and more immediately vulnerable to once-distant threats” and could act as “a force for good.”
Carney revives a Davos theme
The Dublin remarks followed themes Carney laid out earlier this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to Al Jazeera. In that speech, Carney argued that existing alliances were under strain and that intermediate powers should work together to build a new order.
Trump responded at Davos by criticizing Carney, saying Canada received “a lot of freebies” from the United States and should be grateful, Al Jazeera reported. Trump also said, “Canada lives because of the United States.”
In Dublin, Carney pointed to the scale of a Canada-Europe partnership. He said their combined population is more than twice that of the United States and that their collective defence budget is twice China’s, according to Al Jazeera.
Since becoming prime minister in 2025, Carney has sought closer ties with Europe. Al Jazeera reported that in May he became the first non-European leader to take part in the European Political Community Summit.
Carney also oversaw Canada’s entry into Europe’s SAFE Instrument in February, making Canada the first non-European country in the loan programme for military defence supplies, according to Al Jazeera.
Carney said Saturday that he wants the European Union to strengthen ties with the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would reduce trade barriers among nearly a dozen Pacific countries, including Canada. He said such a link would create a trading bloc of more than 1.5 billion people, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.