Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken significant steps to align Canada more closely with Europe, particularly in response to tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. This strategic pivot marks a notable shift in Canada’s traditional reliance on the United States for defense and economic partnerships, driven by strained bilateral relations and Trump’s aggressive trade and sovereignty rhetoric.
Carney’s administration has actively pursued deeper ties with the European Union (EU), evident in several key actions. In March 2025, shortly after assuming office, Carney made his first international trip to Paris and London, prioritizing alliances with France and the United Kingdom over a traditional visit to Washington. This move was explicitly framed as a response to Trump’s attacks on Canadian sovereignty and economy, including his talk of annexation and sweeping 25% tariffs on Canadian goods [1][2]. During these visits, Carney emphasized the need to strengthen bonds with “reliable allies” like France, highlighting shared values of freedom, democracy, and solidarity [3].
A cornerstone of this realignment is the strategic defense and security partnership signed with the EU in June 2025. This agreement, announced in Brussels, aims to reduce Canada’s dependence on U.S. military equipment—where up to 70% of its defense budget has historically been spent—and integrate Canada into European defense initiatives like the €150 billion ReArm Europe program [4][5][6]. The partnership extends beyond defense, fostering collaboration in trade, supply chains, climate change, and cybersecurity, with Carney describing Canada as “the most European of non-European nations” [3]. Additionally, Canada is exploring alternatives to U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, such as Sweden’s Gripen, due to cost overruns and strained relations with Washington [4].
This shift is further underscored by Carney’s diplomatic stance at international forums. At the 2025 G7 Summit in Alberta, Carney refused to sign the final communiqué or participate in the family photo, a bold protest against Trump’s tariffs and trade policies [2]. His administration has also committed to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, partly in response to Trump’s pressure on NATO members to contribute more, but channeled through European partnerships rather than U.S.-centric frameworks [3][7].
While Carney has acknowledged that Trump’s rhetoric—once including notions of Canada becoming the 51st state—has receded, he remains firm that the close U.S.-Canada relationship is “over.” Instead, he has prioritized European alliances to diversify trade and bolster security, as seen in efforts to expand the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has already boosted trade significantly despite ratification challenges in some EU countries [8][7]. Carney’s clear rejection of EU membership, while still seeking a closer partnership, reflects a balanced approach to maintaining Canadian sovereignty while countering U.S. influence [3].
In summary, Carney’s alignment of Canada with Europe is a direct response to Trump’s policies and rhetoric, encompassing defense agreements, trade diversification, and diplomatic gestures. This reorientation signals a tectonic shift in Canada’s international relations, prioritizing European partnerships to mitigate vulnerabilities tied to U.S. relations.
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- https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/europe/canada-mark-carney-europe-trump-intl-hnk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuRvSYbv2WE
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-eu-partnership-deepening-ties-1.7570680
- https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5371379-on-defense-canada-is-turning-away-from-the-us-and-toward-europe/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-rearm-europe-deal-1.7567162
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15nped8znko
- https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/americas/carney-canada-51st-state-trump-nato-latam-intl
- https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-what-mark-carney-means-for-the-us-canada-relationship/
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