Carney touts ‘right partnerships’ in Arctic as he welcomes Norwegian PM to Ottawa

Ottawa — Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the importance of forging strong international partnerships, especially with Norway, as a key strategy to counter growing threats from Russia. During a joint press conference in Ottawa with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, both leaders discussed concerns raised by the Polish prime minister of potential Russian attacks on European nations supporting Ukraine.

Store's team had concluded that hybrid threats, ranging from sabotage to other forms of aggression, were a real concern. While Carney did not explicitly endorse the credibility of these threats, he agreed with Store's assessment and emphasized that deepening relationships across various sectors, including intelligence sharing and joint capacities, was crucial.

Carney stressed the value of the "right partners" among Arctic nations, pointing to the phrase "High North, low tension" as a guiding principle for maintaining stability. In July, Carney opted to purchase a dozen submarines from a German-European shipbuilder, rather than a Korean firm, after a protracted and contentious bidding process.

The chosen partnership involved contributions from Norway, with the three nations collaborating on the submarines' development and maintenance. Carney noted that the ongoing engagements, whether in Norway, with the French president, or in other settings, were interconnected. Prior to his meeting with Store, Carney had traveled to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, further strengthening ties with Europe.

Carney's current visit reflects his broader goal of fostering closer European ties, including potential associate membership in the EU. Although Norway is not an EU member, the two countries have enjoyed a market access agreement for three decades, granting both sides free access to each other's markets and access to most EU programs.

Carney is also pursuing deeper defense cooperation with Norway, as well as investments from its substantial sovereign wealth fund, which is primarily invested in oil. Carney visited Norway in March 2026, the first sitting prime minister since 1980 to do so, to further advance collaboration in areas such as Arctic security, space exploration, critical minerals, and energy.

Both leaders highlighted their status as low-risk petroleum producers amid global supply shocks triggered by conflicts like the U.S. war on Iran. Norwegian officials have frequently characterized Canada as a similar nation due to its balanced approach between a significant oil sector, green energy initiatives, and respect for Indigenous Peoples.

Both countries emphasize multilateralism and a strong commitment to NATO and the European Union, despite not being members of the latter. In recent years, Canada has intensified its Arctic foreign policy by seeking closer ties with Nordic countries in defense, strategic sectors, and environmental matters.