France’s Macron, Canada’s Carney announce closer ties

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced closer ties on Sunday from Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a small French territory off Canada's Atlantic coast. The leaders made the announcement at a joint press conference in Saint Pierre. Both Macron and Carney emphasized that their nations are independent and want to maintain their sovereignty.

Macron spoke about defending their sovereignty and staying true to their values, while Carney echoed this sentiment, calling on both leaders to remain true to their values.

Earlier in the day, Macron and Carney paid their respects at a monument honoring the islanders who volunteered for the Free French forces during WWII. Following this, Carney stated that it was time to strengthen ties with France and the European Union, building upon the positive visit to Brussels where the EU offered Canada associate member status.

Macron highlighted that the two countries would work together on issues such as fishing, security, and energy. Carney proposed the idea of France, Canada, the US, and China collaborating on artificial intelligence.

Macron was the first Canadian Prime Minister to visit the territory, arriving in a warm greeting and embrace with Carney. Both leaders expressed their desire to build a future of peace and prosperity, emphasizing the common values of democracy, rule of law, free trade, and strategic autonomy. The visit comes at a time when both countries are experiencing strained relations with the US, particularly due to President Trump's comments about potentially annexing Canada.