Canadian Prime Minister Demands Middle-Power Solidarity Against Authoritarian Threats Before G7 Summit
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Prime Minister Mark Carney called for Canada, Ireland, and the European Union to unite and resist the erosion of the rules-based international order, highlighting the dangers of unchecked economic coercion and the rise of right-wing nationalism ahead of the G7 meeting in France.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a passionate lecture at Trinity College in Dublin on Saturday, urging so-called 'middle powers'—Canada, Ireland, and the European Union—to band together in the face of a crumbling post-Cold War rules-based order. Carney warned that multilateral institutions, painstakingly built to promote peace and cooperation, are being systematically undermined, while economic integration is weaponized by powerful states to coerce weaker nations, threatening the very foundations of fair international trade.
Carney called on European leaders to recognize the collective strength of the Canada-EU bloc, whose combined populations and defense budgets surpass even those of China. He argued that solidarity among progressive democracies is essential to counteract the growing influence of authoritarian regimes and right-wing populists. Carney also advocated for deeper ties with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, envisioning a vast trading bloc of over 1.5 billion people that could serve as a bulwark against protectionism and exploitation.
These remarks come as tensions escalate between Canada and the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly pressured Canada to fall in line with his administration’s regressive policies. Both leaders are set to attend the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, from June 15-17, where the future of multilateral cooperation hangs in the balance.
Carney’s urgent call for collaboration echoes his earlier speech at the World Economic Forum, where he championed a new alliance among intermediate powers to defend democracy and social justice. He has also reached out to Europe, becoming the first non-European to join the European Political Community summit and participating in the EU’s SAFE Instrument loan programme for defense supplies, reinforcing the need for internationalist solutions to global crises.