Macron and Carney vow closer France-Canada ties amid strained US relations

French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France and Canada are "two great independent nations who want to stay that way" during a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday.

The bilateral summit—held in the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, located just off Canada's Atlantic coast—comes against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between the two nations and the United States.

Carney stated that the time had come to significantly strengthen ties with France and the European Union. His comments follow a high-profile visit to Brussels and Strasbourg, where the European Commission formally proposed granting Canada "associate member" status within the bloc.

Macron confirmed that Paris and Ottawa would work together to deepen cooperation across key sectors, including fisheries, regional security, and energy infrastructure.

Looking beyond bilateral ties, Carney proposed establishing a four-way collaborative framework involving France, Canada, the US, and China to oversee the development and governance of artificial intelligence.

The leaders delivered their remarks following a working lunch and a series of high-level meetings on the island earlier in the day.