Macron, Carney to visit French Atlantic islands after Trump map redraws North America

Paris, Sept 14 — French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will embark on a visit to France's North Atlantic territory, Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, in the coming week. The purpose of the visit is to reaffirm their commitment to national borders amid Donald Trump's territorial ambitions, as announced by the Elysee. Trump's social media post of a map of North America, with various countries shaded in with the US flag, has drawn attention to the issue.

The US president's controversial map also encompassed several French overseas territories, illustrating the heightened tensions between the two nations. Macron is scheduled to visit Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon from September 19-21, with Carney joining him on September 20. This will be the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the archipelago, as per the French presidency.

Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, situated approximately 20 kilometers off Canada's Atlantic coast, is home to around 6,000 inhabitants. The visit comes at a time when the world is marked by power politics, geopolitical tensions, and new forms of dependency. Macron and Carney aim to collaborate with other like-minded countries to strengthen their ability to make decisions and act independently.

The French president's visit is particularly significant for Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon, as it was the site of tensions during World War II. In 1941, Free French forces, led by General Charles de Gaulle, seized the islands from the Vichy regime, despite opposition from the US administration. The last visit by a French president to the islands was in 2014, when Francois Hollande paid a visit.

Macron's agenda also includes addressing climate change affecting the territory. The village of Miquelon has started relocating inland to escape the growing threat of sea-level rise, marking France's first climate-driven community relocation.