Macron and Carney meet on Saint Pierre and Miquelon to deepen France-Canada ties

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on Sunday on Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory near Canada's Newfoundland coast, marking the first-ever visit by a Canadian leader to the archipelago. The two leaders called for stronger bilateral cooperation amid what they described as new global threats.

The meeting took place as both France and Canada face increasingly strained relations with the United States under President Donald Trump, whose tariffs, demands for economic concessions, and repeated suggestions that Canada could become the 51st US state have prompted Ottawa to seek closer ties with Europe.

At a joint press conference, Macron emphasised that France and Canada were both independent nations determined to remain so, while Carney indicated that the time had come to strengthen Canada's links with France and the wider European Union.

The visit follows recent remarks by Carney suggesting Canada could become the EU's first associate member, a move he said would help protect the country's markets and sovereignty from outside influence.

Macron said the two nations would work together to strengthen cooperation in areas including fishing rights, security, and energy.