French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on Sunday in the French overseas territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, off Canada's Atlantic coast, to deepen economic and security cooperation. The summit came as Ottawa seeks to reduce its reliance on the United States following a series of trade disputes and political provocations from Washington.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Macron described France and Canada as "two great independent nations who want to stay that way," underscoring the shared commitment to sovereignty and multilateralism. Carney, who took office last month, said the time had come to "significantly strengthen" ties with France and the European Union, echoing his recent visit to Brussels and Strasbourg, where the European Commission formally proposed granting Canada "associate member" status within the bloc.
Strategic sectors and energy security
The leaders discussed deepening cooperation in fisheries, regional security, and energy infrastructure. Macron highlighted Canada's vast reserves of critical minerals, rare earths, oil, and natural gas, and expressed interest in securing more liquefied natural gas shipments to Europe's Atlantic coast. "What we want to do is conclude agreements to secure more liquefied natural gas that can be shipped to Europe's Atlantic coast," he said.
Carney's office confirmed that the talks covered aerospace, energy, critical minerals, and advanced technologies such as quantum computing, satellites, and supercomputing. The two leaders also discussed a four-way collaborative framework involving France, Canada, the US, and China to oversee the development and governance of artificial intelligence.
The meeting follows a series of US actions that have unsettled Ottawa, including tariffs, demands for economic concessions, and President Donald Trump's repeated suggestions of making Canada the 51st US state. These moves have pushed Canada to pursue closer ties with Europe, as reflected in Canada's EU associate membership bid.
Macron also welcomed the recent US-Denmark agreement on Greenland, which expands the US military presence on the island while maintaining Danish sovereignty, ending months of threats by Trump to seize the territory. "This is an important moment," Macron said on Saturday upon his arrival, adding that the talks would "allow us to strengthen our bilateral economic ties and defence relationship."
The summit in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a small archipelago with a population of around 6,000, symbolizes the enduring bond between France and Canada. The leaders' discussions are part of a broader European effort to secure stable energy supplies amid the ongoing war in Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets and stoked fears of sustained price increases.
Carney's visit to Europe, including his address to the European Parliament, has been met with applause and signals a new chapter in Canada-EU relations. As transatlantic ties are reshaped by US pressure, the France-Canada partnership is emerging as a cornerstone of a more autonomous European and Canadian foreign policy.
