The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, during talks with European Union leaders in Montreal, pointed out his country's excessive dependence on the United States and stressed that Canada must move towards strengthening its relations with like-minded countries.
Emphasis on Diversity in Cooperation
Carney stated in these talks, which included Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, that Canadians have come to the conclusion that dependence on the United States as the largest trading partner carries risks. He said: "The lessons we have learned are that we are dependent on the United States and we must strengthen our power domestically and focus on diversifying and deepening cooperation with like-minded countries internationally."
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Proposal for Associate Membership
During this meeting, discussions were held regarding von der Leyen's proposal to create a type of "associate membership" between Canada and the European Union. This type of membership does not exist specifically for other countries, and Carney spoke in favor of this plan. He explained that this type of cooperation means the closest possible partnership without full membership in the European Union, as Canada is not geographically located in Europe.
In response to questions about cooperation between Canada and the European Union, Carney referred to existing agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and called it one of the most successful free trade agreements in the world. He also mentioned opportunities for collaboration in research areas and programs like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ for student exchanges.
Future Prospects
The Prime Minister of Canada also emphasized the necessity of expanding cooperation in areas such as space technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. Despite the existing challenges in relations with Donald Trump, the President of the United States, he expressed that the relationship between the U.S. and Canada is so deep that it cannot be influenced by the actions of governments and officials.
Carney concluded by emphasizing that Canada and the United States have always been close partners and allies in NATO and that there are many opportunities for cooperation between the two countries. However, he stated that in many cases, there will be deeper cooperation with Europe.
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