Canada's new prime minister in Paris: "We are strengthening ties with reliable allies."

Paris/LondonIn the midst of a trade war with the United States, Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has signaled his government's break with US President Donald Trump by choosing Europe for his first foreign visit. Typically, the first trip of a new Canadian head of government is to Washington. But Carney, who replaces Justine Trudeau, visited Paris on Monday and traveled to London in the afternoon. He met with President Emmanuel Macron, with whom premier Keir Starmer and King Charles III, who also holds the position of head of state of Canada. A visit that should be interpreted as a matter of protocol but is also a show of support from the monarch for a country under threat of annexation by Donald Trump.

With political tensions between Canada and the United States as a backdrop, Carney's trip to Europe is a political message directed at the president of the United States. But in case the gesture wasn't clear, the Canadian suggested it with his words. "It is more important than ever to strengthen ties with our reliable allies, like France," Carney emphasized at the Élysée Palace before a working lunch with Macron.

"We know that it is collaboration, not confrontation, that allows us to build strong economies," the Canadian insisted, in a clear allusion to the trade war with the United States. Trump has decided to increase tariffs by 25% on products from the neighboring country, which could have a strong negative impact on Canada's economic growth: according to the OECD, Canadian GDP will grow by 0.7% this year, much less than the 2% forecast before the tariff increase..

Tension with Trump

Tensions between the two countries also grew when Trump warned that he wanted to turn Canada—which maintains important historical and political ties with the United Kingdom and France—into "the 51st American state." In the face of Ottawa's break with the United States and Trump's rapprochement with Russia, Carney, addressing the French president, emphasized that his country is committed to Europe and its security. "Canada will respond whenever necessary to strengthen European security, foster prosperous trade, and cooperate for peace [...]. We are a reliable, stable, and trustworthy partner, even in this context of political and economic crisis," stated the former governor of the Canadian central bank and also of the Bank of England.

Carney and Macron have appeared to be very in tune with the media and have demonstrated their shared views on the war in Ukraine and the trade war. "We are determined to jointly defend a fair international order. That is, one that is neither the law of the strongest nor isolationism," the French president emphasized.

In mid-afternoon, King Charles III received the Canadian Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace for thirty minutes. As noted, he is, formally, Canada's head of state. This visit should be read more as a symbol than a mere statement, because the king does not make political statements and Carney has not commented on the meeting.

But Charles III's reception of Carney is a show of support for the country's sovereignty and independence in the face of any attempt to subject it to Washington, an idea that seems like a toast to the sun on the part of the occupant of the White House. However, the monarchy's gesture could shake London's policy of appeasement with the erratic and unpredictable Trump, especially after Keir Starmer's trip at the end of February. Because, in fact, with its right hand, London—in this case, the king—supports a free Canada; but with its left, it has invited Trump to a second and exceptional state visit, yet to be finalized. The monarchy reminds the US president who rules Ottawa, but the monarchy will also serve to satisfy Donald Trump's enormous ego.