In a speech delivered in Dublin, Ireland on June 7, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called for unity between Canada and the European Union (EU) ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit set to take place in France from June 15 to 17.
Speaking at the launch of the De Chastelain Lecture Series at Trinity College Dublin, Carney stressed that the world is at a critical inflection point and urged what he termed 'middle powers' to band together in pursuit of collective strength.
'Ireland and Canada are navigating a global fracture, not a quiet transition,' Carney said. 'The post-Cold War rules-based order is collapsing. Multilateral institutions have weakened. Economic integration, which once benefited us, is being weaponized. The international trading system we have relied on for decades is under threat.'
Though Carney did not name any country directly, his remarks come at a time of historically strained Canada-U.S. relations. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become the '51st state' and has applied tariffs to pressure Canada on trade and immigration issues.
Carney called for closer cooperation among 'middle powers,' especially with the EU, which is itself seeking to reduce reliance on the United States. He emphasized: 'Canada, Ireland, and Europe are increasingly vulnerable to threats from afar. And I believe that amid this change and disruption, Canada, Ireland, and Europe can play a pivotal, strong, and purposeful role: a force for good.'
Carney compared the strength of a Canada-EU alliance with that of the world's largest economies: 'Together, we are strong. Our combined population is double that of the United States. Our collective defense budget is double that of China.'
Since becoming Canadian Prime Minister in 2025, Carney has pushed for stronger ties with Europe. In May, he became the first non-European leader to attend a European Political Community summit. In February, Canada joined the EU's SAFE instrument, a defense equipment loan program.
Carney also expressed hope that the EU would strengthen its links with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, creating a trade bloc of over 1.5 billion people. 'Countries that invest in their own capabilities and cooperate with like-minded allies will multiply their strength,' he said.
