British Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with Prime Minister Mark Carney in 10 Downing Street, in London, on March 17.Jordan Pettitt/Reuters
World leaders have congratulated Mark Carney on leading the Liberals to victory on Monday with some signalling that it marks the start of a stronger relationship with Canada in the face of growing unease with U.S. President Donald Trump.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “the bond between Europe and Canada is strong – and growing stronger.”
“I look forward to working closely together, both bilaterally and within the G7. We’ll defend our shared democratic values, promote multilateralism and champion free and fair trade,” she added on Tuesday.
In his congratulatory message, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted the connections between Mr. Carney and the U.K., stemming from the Canadian Prime Minister’s time as governor of the Bank of England.
“With your leadership, and personal ties to the U.K., I know the relationship between our two countries will continue to grow,” Mr. Starmer said in a statement. “We will work together to deepen our economic relationship to deliver security for hardworking people in the U.K. and Canada – which we were both elected to do.”
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Since taking over as Liberal Party Leader and Prime Minister in March, Mr. Carney has stressed the importance of broadening Canada’s trade links especially in Europe. His first trips as Prime Minister were to Paris and London, and he told French President Emmanuel Macron that Canada was the “most European of non-European countries.”
Mr. Carney has also said that he hopes to build on a free-trade deal Canada signed with the EU in 2016. Known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the pact has failed to gain much traction among Canadian businesses, especially small and mid-sized firms. That could change now that Mr. Trump has imposed steep tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, steel, aluminum and other products.
Mr. Carney has also said that he is interested in working on a deal with the EU on military production.
The EU and Canada “have a long and close partnership. We are allies and strong trade partners. We share the same values, and attachment to the UN Charter and the rules-based international order,” said António Costa, president of the European Council, which is made up of the leaders of EU member states.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof echoed those comments and added that “Canada and the Netherlands share historic ties and common values, and work together in many fields like trade and economics, security and defence.”
Mr. Macron referenced Mr. Carney’s “elbows up” rallying cry. “France is glad to further strengthen the friendship which unites our two countries,” Mr. Macron said in a post on X. “I’m looking forward to working with you – ‘elbow to elbow’!”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Mr. Carney and praised him for ending a trade spat over Vegemite, an Australian delicacy.
Earlier this month the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered a Toronto coffee shop to pull Vegemite because the regulator said it did not meet standards on vitamin fortification. After interventions by Mr. Albanese, Mr. Carney’s office expedited a review of the CFIA’s decision, which was later clarified to allow the spread to be sold.
“I’ve had a couple of really warm conversations with him. I thank him for defending Vegemite – a really practical outcome of the friendship that we have between Australia and Canada,” Mr. Albanese told reporters on Tuesday. “We have a close relationship, we are very similar countries, both part of the Commonwealth, we share a lot in common.”
In a follow-up statement on X, the Australian Prime Minister added: “In a time of global uncertainty, I look forward to continuing to work with you to build on the enduring friendship between our nations, in the shared interests of all our citizens.”
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Former U.S. president Joe Biden said he was confident that Mr. Carney “will be a strong leader for the fundamental values and interests Canadians and Americans share.”
Mr. Carney will take his first major step on the global stage in June when he hosts the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alta. The meeting will bring him together with Mr. Trump as well as leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the EU.
A spokesman for the Chinese government stopped short of congratulating Mr. Carney but said Beijing was open to improving relations with Canada, which have been strained in recent years. “China is willing to develop China-Canada relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Mr. Carney and said Ukraine deeply valued Canada’s support “from military, financial and humanitarian assistance to imposing sanctions against Russia.”
“We are confident that our partnership will only grow stronger in our shared pursuit of peace, justice and security,” Mr. Zelensky added.
Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals retained power in the federal election on Monday (April 28), but fell short of the majority government he had wanted to help him negotiate tariffs with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ryan Chang reports.
Reuters