Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, who embarks on his first foreign visit to Paris and London on Monday—just a day after his 60th birthday—hoping to drum up firm backing from its allies.
The urgency behind Carney’s trip is clear. Like Europe, Canada is bearing the brunt of sweeping tariffs imposed by the United States, but more alarmingly, Donald Trump has made no secret of his ambitions to extend his influence over his northern neighbour. “We appreciate all the symbolic gestures but we need more public backing,” a Canadian official confided to BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.
Carney’s agenda for his European tour speaks to his twin priorities: finance and fortifying security—natural extensions of his career as an economist and former head of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. In a statement, his office emphasised that the visit is aimed at “strengthening two of our closest and longest-standing economic and security partnerships.”
Yet, Carney’s itinerary is steeped in symbolism as well. In his maiden speech as prime minister on Friday, he polished the historical narrative of Canada’s origins, celebrating the country’s foundations upon “the bedrock of three peoples: Indigenous, French, and British.” He intends to reflect that message with a third stop on his diplomatic tour: Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s Arctic territory of Nunavut, home to the Inuit people.
This visit serves more than an outreach gesture to Indigenous communities. Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is under increasing strain, with global superpowers—namely the US, Russia, and China—jostling for influence in the region. The vast Arctic and northern territories comprise 40% of Canada’s land mass, making its defence and security a strategic imperative in what has been dubbed the “cold war of all cold wars.”
There is also a personal resonance to Carney’s Arctic visit. Born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, he has deep roots in the northern expanse of the country. His choice to highlight Iqaluit in his first international foray underscores his commitment to safeguarding Canada’s territorial integrity while ensuring that Arctic sovereignty is not merely an afterthought in broader security discussions.
Beyond the geopolitical stakes, Carney’s trip is also an exercise in political branding. A general election, expected to be called imminently, must be held by October. Carney, a seasoned financial technocrat, now faces the challenge of proving his political mettle to the Canadian electorate. He must demonstrate that he can connect with voters in English and French as effortlessly as he has with global financial elites.
And he has yet to secure a proper political mandate. While he was overwhelmingly chosen by his Liberal Party to succeed Justin Trudeau—winning 86% of the vote in the leadership race—Carney does not yet hold a seat in Parliament. Without the electorate’s endorsement, his authority remains incomplete.
The broader political landscape has also undergone a dramatic shift. What once seemed like an inevitable electoral downfall for the Liberals, after a decade of Trudeau at the helm, has been upended by what some are calling a “Trump bump”—a surge in support for the party in response to Trump’s aggressive posturing. As a result, the Liberals, once on track for a crushing defeat, now find themselves neck-and-neck with their Conservative rivals in the polls.
As Carney commences this whistle-stop diplomatic mission, the stakes are high. He needs more than warm words from allies; he needs them to take a stand. At home, he must transform his financial expertise into political momentum. His ability to secure both international backing and domestic voter confidence will determine whether his tenure as prime minister is a brief interlude or the beginning of a new era for Canada.
