Under fire from Trump, Carney to build UK ties

MONTREAL, Mar 17: With Canada's independence under threat, Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Britain next week to meet his British counterpart Keir Starmer and King Charles III.

According to a statement from Carney's office, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England chief will continue to London after talks on Monday in Paris with France's President Emmanuel Macron.

The statement said Carney would seek to strengthen "two of our closest and longest-standing economic and security partnerships," those with France and Britain.
In recent weeks, Canada's sovereignty has been repeatedly challenged by President Donald Trump, who has launched a trade war and threatened to annex the United States' northern neighbor.

Canada has dismissed the US claim, but the issue is certain to dominate the upcoming election, which could be called within weeks.

Meanwhile, Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney in Paris on Monday said his country needed to "reinforce its ties with reliable allies like France", as relations with the United States unravel under Donald Trump.

With Canada's economy and even sovereignty under unprecedented threat from its southern neighbour the United States, its new leader has embarked on a trans-Atlantic trip to strengthen ties with traditional friends France and Britain.

"It is more important than ever for Canada to reinforce its ties with reliable allies like France," he said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on his first trip abroad since becoming prime minister on Friday.

"I want to ensure that France and the whole of Europe works enthusiastically with Canada, the most European of non-European countries, determined like you to maintain the most positive possible relations with the United States," Carney said.

Trump has imposed an escalating raft of import tariffs on Canadian goods since taking office in January, threatening to trigger a recession in Canada. The US president has also threatened to annex Canada.

Carney told Macron both nations stood for "sovereignty".

"We both stand for sovereignty and security demonstrated by our unwavering support for Ukraine under your leadership," the Canadian premier said, two days after both leaders took part in a Saturday morning video conference of countries backing Ukraine organised by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Macron said that France and Canada were both "peaceful powers" who would carry on supporting Kyiv and "continue to demand clear commitments from Russia" towards implementing lasting peace in the Ukraine and ensuring "the security of the whole of Europe". �"AFP