OTTAWA – Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to embark on a diplomatic journey to Europe on Thursday, visiting Ireland and France ahead of the G7 summit. This significant gathering is scheduled to take place from June 15 to June 17 in Evian-les-Bains, with France emphasizing the theme of reducing global inequalities.
The G7 summit's timeline was adjusted when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a UFC fight hosted at the White House on June 14, coinciding with Flag Day in the United States and Trump’s 80th birthday. Fen Osler Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, remarked that the focus for the leaders will likely be on "managing Trump" during the summit. He highlighted that meaningful discussions will occur among the remaining G6 leaders in Trump’s absence, addressing the challenges posed by an unpredictable president who has insulted several European leaders.
The French government has outlined several priorities for the summit, including addressing major geopolitical crises and supporting Ukraine, enhancing online protections for children, combating crime, and discussing "the new rules of global governance." However, Hampson conveyed that the official agenda often fails to capture the urgent issues that will arise during discussions—specifically mentioning the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, energy security, and U.S. tariffs as likely topics of concern.
Last year, Canada hosted the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where Trump departed early due to escalating conflicts in the Middle East. The G7, consisting of Canada, France, the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy, also welcomes the European Union for discussions, although the EU is not included in the group's numerical designation.
Before attending the summit, Carney will make stops in Paris and Dublin. A news release from the Prime Minister’s Office indicates that discussions between Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron will focus on deepening bilateral ties in crucial sectors such as defense, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and critical minerals.
On the other side, Ireland is poised to take on the presidency of the Council of the European Union in July and has emerged as a key player for foreign investment and international business. This visit marks the first official trip by a Canadian prime minister to Ireland in nearly a decade. Carney plans to meet with Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, and Irish President Catherine Connolly to strengthen cultural and trade connections between Canada and Ireland.
Carney recently engaged with 150 Irish business leaders in Ottawa, where discussions revolved around economic opportunities, innovation, investment, and growth across various sectors. In terms of trade relations, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Ireland reached $6 billion in 2025, with Canadian exports to Ireland totaling $1.1 billion, primarily consisting of cereals, while imports from Ireland amounted to $4.9 billion, mainly in pharmaceutical products.
This trade relationship is supported by the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been provisionally put into effect but remains unratified by several EU member states, including Ireland. During a previous meeting in Ottawa, Martin expressed Ireland's intention to ratify the CETA deal, and a joint statement from the leaders underscored the significance of Ireland's full ratification by 2026.
Recent reports from The Irish Times suggest that the Irish government is preparing to approve new legislation to expedite the ratification of the trade agreement, aiming to reduce the nation's economic reliance on the United States. Notably, there is an estimated 4.5 million Canadians with Irish ancestry, which represents nearly 15 percent of Canada’s total population.
Carney possesses personal ties to Ireland, as his grandparents immigrated from County Mayo in the early 1920s. This upcoming trip is thus anticipated not only as a diplomatic engagement but also as a visit to strengthen historic connections between Canada and Ireland. This report includes contributions from Craig Lord.
