PARIS — New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Paris Monday to fulfill with French President Emmanuel Macron, in search of help from one in all Canada’s oldest allies as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to assault Canada’s sovereignty and economic system.
That is Carney’s first official overseas journey since he was sworn in on March 14. He’ll subsequent land in London the place he’ll sit down with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, the top of state in Canada.
Carney has intentionally chosen the 2 European capital cities that formed Canada’s early existence. Throughout his swearing-in ceremony, he famous the nation was constructed on the bedrock of three peoples, French, English and Indigenous, and stated Canada is basically totally different from America and can “by no means, ever, in any approach form or type, be a part of the USA.”
Since Trump got here to workplace, he has imposed whopping tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and repeatedly commented on turning Canada into the 51st state, infuriating Canadians and sparking a name to boycott U.S. merchandise throughout the nation.
On Monday, a senior Canadian authorities official briefed reporters on the airplane earlier than selecting up Carney in Montreal, saying the aim of the journey is to double down on partnerships with London and Paris. The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as he isn’t allowed to talk publicly, stated Canada is a “good good friend of the USA however everyone knows what’s going on.”
Carney will go to the Notre-Dame Cathedral earlier than assembly with Macron on the Palais de l’Élysée. Nonetheless, Macron is not anticipated to carry a joint information convention with Carney, an indication the French president may not need to upset Trump by siding with Canada.
Earlier than returning to Ottawa on Tuesday, Carney will journey to the sting of Canada’s Arctic to “reaffirm Canada’s Arctic safety and sovereignty.” There, he’s anticipated to name for a federal election inside days. earlier than the Canadian parliament resumes.
“The selection of this itinerary for Prime Minister Carney’s first official journey emphasizes the sturdy connection of Canada with the arctic in addition to with the 2 former colonial powers Canada stays connected to, via the Commonwealth on the U.Okay. facet and La Francophonie on the France facet, stated Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill College in Montreal.
“The truth that Canada by no means broke away from the U.Okay. in a violent style is a key historic and institutional distinction between the USA and Canada, a constitutional monarchy relatively than a republic that has adopted and retained a U.Okay.-style parliamentary system.”
The journey to London will likely be a little bit of a homecoming, as Carney grew to become the primary non-British governor within the Financial institution of England’s 319-year historical past when he took excessive job on July 1, 2013. He served till March 15, 2020.
Carney, a former central banker who turned 60 on Sunday, has stated he’s ready to meet with Trump if he reveals respect for Canadian sovereignty. He stated he doesn’t plan to go to Washington in the meanwhile however hopes to have a telephone name with the president quickly. His authorities can also be reviewing the purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets in gentle of Trump’s commerce conflict.
In the meantime, Macron has been ramping up efforts to influence France’s allies to maneuver away from purchases of American army {hardware}, which dovetails with Canada’s rethink on F-35s and in addition coincides with mounting questions and considerations in Europe that European defenses are overly depending on U.S. weaponry, technical help and goodwill.
Canada’s governing Liberal Celebration had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this yr till Trump declared financial conflict. Now the social gathering and its new chief may come out on high.
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Related Press writers John Leicester in Paris and Danica Kirka in London contributed this report.
