Mark Carney seeks closer EU ties as US tensions grow

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking much closer ties with the European Union as he hosts the bloc's leaders this week, part of a wider effort to reposition Canada while relations with the United States remain strained under President Donald Trump.

The push could include discussions around a special EU "associate member" status for Canada. Carney has argued that Canada must reduce its dependence on the United States after US tariffs hit the Canadian economy and Trump's annexation threats caused anger in Canada.

In August, Carney broke off trade negotiations with Trump's team and said: "America is trying to break us so that they can own us." He has also warned Canadians that a US signature on commitments is sometimes "written in pencil." Asked Monday whether Trump might sign a future deal in pen, Carney said: "I don't know that."

Carney, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker and former central bank chief in Canada and England, has presented himself as a leader able to manage economic risk. University of Ottawa political scientist Genevieve Tellier said Carney understood that the shock of Trump's conduct would let Canada "do big things" quickly.

Beyond Europe, Carney has moved to repair or deepen ties with China, India, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He has said he wants Canadian businesses to gain tariff-free access to three billion consumers worldwide.

Carney also wants to quadruple defence spending by 2030. Ottawa's decision to buy a new submarine fleet from Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has been seen as part of an effort to rely more on European NATO allies and less on the United States.

His government is also backing a new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast and faster mining projects for critical minerals. University of British Columbia political scientist Maxwell Cameron said he expects a backlash over measures seen as damaging the environment. Bloc Quebecois lawmaker Patrick Bonin said last week that environmental policy under Carney was "going back decades."