Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Europe on June 12 for a six-day trip that culminates in the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, from June 15 to 17, amid persistent trade tensions with the United States and broader geopolitical uncertainty.
Carney landed in Paris and immediately met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l’Élysée, where the two leaders announced a new general security of information agreement to deepen defence and industrial cooperation. The accord will allow Canada and France to exchange classified information across defence, space, artificial intelligence, and aerospace sectors, expanding Canadian industry’s access to French defence procurement opportunities.
“Businesses in both of our countries are doing more together, in energy, defence, critical minerals and now in artificial intelligence,” Carney said during a media availability following the bilateral meeting. He emphasized that the agreement represents an ability to exchange classified information that will make Canadian industry more competitive in pursuing French defence contracts.
The meeting comes as Canada faces intensifying trade pressures from the Trump administration. According to reports from the Associated Press and PBS NewsHour, Carney is expected to adopt a more muted approach to his criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump at the upcoming G7 summit, a marked shift from his high-profile speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, when he signaled that Canada and other middle powers must work together amid geopolitical shifts and trade wars.
More than 70 percent of Canada’s exports go to the United States, and Trump said this week that he may not renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, adding pressure to already strained trade negotiations. The softer diplomatic tone reflects Canada’s pragmatic calculation that maintaining dialogue with the U.S. president is essential to protecting Canadian economic interests.
The Paris meeting marks the seventh one-on-one discussion between Carney and Macron since Carney took office in March 2025. The two leaders discussed trade, energy, critical minerals, and France’s recent purchase of two de Havilland water bombers manufactured in Calgary, Alberta. They also covered online child safety, a shared priority after France approved legislation banning social media for children under 15, an idea that has gained momentum across Europe.
Canada’s participation in the G7 summit comes at a moment of fracture within the group. A Canadian government official confirmed this week that leaders will not issue a comprehensive final communiqué at the end of the summit. Instead, they will publish issue-specific statements throughout the event—a departure from traditional G7 practice widely attributed to the difficulty of achieving consensus with Trump on contentious issues.
When asked by reporters whether he offered Macron advice on managing Trump at the summit, Carney declined, saying Macron’s direct speaking style and long experience at the G7 make him well suited to progress with all G7 leaders. “Obviously he’s an extremely experienced statesman,” Carney said. He added that he disagreed with the notion of a “G6 plus one,” insisting that all G7 leaders are seeking common solutions, though he acknowledged that disagreements exist on issues like artificial intelligence policy.
The G7 summit itself will focus on economic security, energy, and responses to major geopolitical crises, with France emphasizing support for Ukraine. The meeting takes place against a backdrop of Middle East conflict and the fallout from deep cuts to foreign aid by the Trump administration. Carney signaled Canada’s willingness to help maintain the Strait of Hormuz if it becomes open and expressed hope for progress toward a cessation of hostilities in the region.
This visit echoes the precedent of Canada’s 2025 G7 presidency, when Carney hosted the summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, 2025. That summit, which Carney concluded with forward-thinking leadership on critical minerals and artificial intelligence, was disrupted by Trump’s early departure. The 2026 summit in France will test whether the G7 can find common ground on key issues despite the fractious environment.
Sources
- Toronto Star — Carney’s meeting with Macron, the security information agreement, and bilateral discussions on trade and defence cooperation
- AP News / PBS NewsHour — Carney softening tone toward Trump ahead of G7 with trade talks at stake
- CBC News — G7 summit dates, location (Évian-les-Bains), and Carney’s trip details
- CTV News — Canada not expecting traditional joint communiqué after G7 leaders meet
- Global News — Carney heading to Ireland and France for G7 summit
- Prime Minister of Canada official website — Carney’s European travel announcement and G7 summit details
- Global Affairs Canada — Canada’s 2025 G7 presidency in Kananaskis and precedent for 2026 summit
