Mark Carney's EU speech highlights Canada's shifting alliances
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament as Ottawa and Brussels deepen ties against a backdrop of strained relations with the United States. FRANCE 24's Doug Herbert explains how the speech illustrates a broader shift in alliances, with a message that, until recently, would more likely have been delivered in Washington than Brussels.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has welcomed the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union's first associate member. He said closer ties with Europe would ensure no country could control Canada's markets or undermine its sovereignty.
In an address to the European Parliament, Carney listed areas where he wants to boost cooperation, including securing "strategic autonomy" in critical minerals, defense-industrial capacity, AI and computing, energy security, and space. He also called for "seamless, digital trade" in non-agricultural goods and services, as well as deeper people-to-people ties.
According to the Guardian Business, polling shows an overwhelming majority of Canadians support closer ties with Europe. Carney stated that Canada and Europe are stronger together, with their strengths complementing and overlapping to create scale. He urged work to deepen ties "deliberately, systematically and rapidly".
Brief written by urgent.news from RFI English, PBS NewsHour, Al Jazeera, Guardian Business, ABC News (US) — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
