Carney says his middle-powers doctrine is 'gaining real traction,' announces intel-sharing pact with France

OTTAWA – On a visit to Paris, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he believes the notion is catching on for middle powers to unite against “hegemons,” as he laid out in his attention-grabbing speech in Davos, Switzerland , earlier this year.

“It is gaining real traction,” said Carney during a press conference in the French capital on Friday. “You see it in the agreements we have, you see … those translating into specific business-to-business and research arrangements that are coming forward.”

Carney met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, where both leaders announced a new general security of information agreement, designed to deepen defence ties between the two countries and facilitate the exchange of classified information.

The prime minister described Canada’s relationship with France as more than just friendship, and reiterated comments made last month that he believes the international order would be rebuilt out of Europe.

“Canada, France and Europe are poised to be a powerful force for good, in the century ahead,” said Carney.

Carney’s visit to Paris is part of a weeklong trip that will end at the annual G7 Summit at Evian-Les-Bains, France, with a stopover in Ireland.

Macron holds the G7 presidency this year, after Carney held it in 2025 and hosted the summit last year in Kananaskis, Alta.

Macron said France serves as a key bridge between Canada and Europe.

“More than ever, we share the same understanding of the world,” he said. “We observe that the international order is fragmented, marked by the return of power politics, by challenges to established rules, by economic coercion, by interference and by information warfare.”

The focus of the agenda for next’s week summit will include the Iran war and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, support for Ukraine, the regulation of artificial intelligence and social media, global trade imbalances with China and critical mineral supply chains.

“If you look at the key issues of security around the Gulf, evolution of the Gulf War, and the situation in Ukraine, the security situation, and providing support (these are) very much common objectives,” said Carney, adding that there may be different approaches around AI.

“I’m looking forward to this summit, and I’m looking forward (to) the broader participation that will be at the summit, everyone from Kenya through to the UAE, who will be there at the broader outreach, that’s an important component of this,” he added.

G7 members Canada, France and the United Kingdom have all introduced legislation to set age restrictions on social media use in their respective countries. CEOs from big American tech firms are expected to attend this year’s summit.

Carney’s strategy of building alliances among midsized powers, especially in Europe, is key to his attempt to pivot from Canadian dependence on the U.S.

“Europe is Carney’s comfort zone. That becomes quite clear if you look at his pattern of travel,” said Roland Paris, a University of Ottawa professor and former adviser to past prime minister Justin Trudeau. “Europe is central to his plans to diversify Canada’s trade relations beyond the U.S., and to build new industrial and technology partnerships.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the summit, which begins Monday, as peace talks between the U.S. and Iran continue to falter amid repeated violations of a two-month-old ceasefire.

Carney has said Canada stands ready to play a role in securing the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, but only when a ceasefire holds and the strait is reopened.

Paris said there are obvious limits to how much Canada can reduce its reliance on the U.S., given their geographic proximity, but he sees Carney laying the groundwork in Europe for a lasting alliance beyond the Trump years.

“This is a long-term bet on Europe as a reliable partner to help achieve Canada’s economic and security objectives, while also recognizing the United States will continue to be Canada’s closest trade partner and closest ally,” he said.

National Post, with a file from Bloomberg News

jgowling@postmedia.com

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