Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron have committed to collaborating on space infrastructure, as well as business and economic development.
During a press conference on Sunday in the French territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Carney announced that he and Macron would direct their respective space agencies and defense ministries to create and share unified infrastructure, which will encompass space launch systems and ground reception facilities.
Additionally, they plan to instruct the regional joint cooperation commission between Atlantic Canada and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to enhance its initiatives in economic development, energy transition, and climate resilience.
Carney mentioned that the chambers of commerce from both nations are also coming together to strengthen connections among their business sectors.
An agreement between the French and Canadian chambers of commerce is anticipated to be signed in the upcoming weeks.
The Prime Minister arrived in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on Sunday to meet with Macron. Upon his arrival, the two leaders greeted each other with a handshake and an embrace, while airport staff gathered nearby to capture photos and videos of the moment.
They participated in a working lunch prior to attending a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial dedicated to the volunteers of Free France.
In December 1941, Free French forces liberated the archipelago from the Vichy regime, which had collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.
Macron is scheduled to remain on the islands, located approximately 20 kilometers off the southern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, for three days during this weekend before heading to New York City for the UN General Assembly.
Carney, who will travel to New York on Monday, chose to accompany Macron for what both nations described as a visit symbolizing unity and respect.
Macron’s office noted that Carney is the first Canadian Prime Minister to make an official visit to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, while Macron himself is the first French President to visit in over a decade.
“In an era marked by a resurgence of power politics, rising geopolitical tensions, and new dependencies, France and Canada share a mutual ambition: to collaborate — alongside all nations that uphold these values — to enhance their capacity to make independent decisions and take action,” a spokesperson from Macron’s office stated in an email.
Alain Di Crescenzo, President and CEO of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed in a statement that strengthening ties with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce represents a “concrete step in our commitment to transforming a historic relationship into real business opportunities.”
“Our economies are genuinely complementary, and by leveraging this, we can create shared value chains in strategic sectors for businesses in both nations,” Di Crescenzo remarked. “The trust that already binds our two countries is an asset that few commercial partnerships globally possess — a strength we can build upon while also exploring other markets concurrently.”
Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, stated that the organization has already begun to deepen its relationships with the French business community, including leading a trade mission of Canadian business leaders to Paris last June.
“We have many more such initiatives planned,” she added.
The discussions between Carney and Macron occur against a backdrop of heightened tensions with the United States for both Canada and Europe, as Canada and the European Union strive for a new and broader alliance.
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her desire for Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union.
In her address on the state of the union to the European Parliament, she stated that both sides must “urgently reimagine” their partnership and move beyond a free-trade agreement to elevate the relationship to the “highest level possible.”
Carney spoke to the Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, expressing his support for von der Leyen’s aspirations regarding Canadian partnerships.
He indicated that although the specifics of the new arrangement are yet to be defined, it will be subject to debate and voting in Parliament. He expressed interest in expanding various connections, particularly opportunities for youth and a unified market for financial services.
Canada and Europe already have a free trade agreement — though it has not been ratified by all EU members — and Canada became the sole non-European participant in the EU’s new defense procurement program last year.
Carney expressed a desire for closer ties with Europe soon after taking office as Prime Minister in March 2025, as he met with Macron in Paris and King Charles in London just days after his swearing-in.
On Sunday, he remarked that the partnership between Canada and France is central to its evolving relationship with Europe.
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