French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed to deepen transatlantic ties and advance cooperation across defence, energy and strategic sectors during a historic working summit in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
"Today, to be sovereign goes beyond being able to feed, fuel and defend ourselves," Carney said, adding that contemporary sovereignty "requires secure access to artificial intelligence, to space, semiconductors, critical minerals (and) clean energy."
The bilateral meeting in the French overseas archipelago, located 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) off the coast of Newfoundland, marked the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the territory.
Macron called for opening a new chapter following a "difficult page" written in 1992 that "traumatised Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon," referring to a June 10, 1992 international arbitration decision that drastically restricted the French territory's maritime borders.
He welcomed Carney's presence as repairing an "aberration of history" due to no Canadian prime minister having previously set foot on the archipelago, emphasising that both nations are united by shared democratic values, international law, and a commitment to strategic autonomy.
On defence and aerospace, Macron welcomed a contract signed on Friday between French space-tracking firm Aldoria and Public Services and Procurement Canada to supply space surveillance data to the Canadian Armed Forces Space Division.
Carney said the two countries had tasked their defence ministries and national space agencies to develop and share common infrastructure, including launch systems and reception facilities. Macron also highlighted Canada's place in the international coalition of the willing supporting Ukraine.
Addressing fuel prices and energy supply concerns driven by Middle Eastern tensions, the French president said that Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects could contribute to European energy security, noting that bilateral discussions on concrete projects have begun.
Forging closer ties
The leaders agreed to address short-term energy challenges at an upcoming G7 meeting dedicated to energy topics under French leadership while affirming their dedication to the medium-term energy transition.
In parallel, they welcomed a strategic partnership between CCI France and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to bring their business communities closer together, while they separately discussed cooperation in critical minerals, rare earths, quantum technologies and artificial intelligence.
To advance regional integration, Macron announced that he asked France's higher education minister to cover the tuition fee differential for Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon students attending Canadian universities.
The leaders also tasked the Regional Joint Cooperation Commission between Atlantic Canada and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to expand work in priority areas, including greenhouse gas emissions, economic growth, energy transition, climate resilience and telecommunications cables.
Looking ahead to the UN General Assembly in New York, Macron noted that France and Canada stand side by side on international priorities, including Palestine, child protection on social networks, and artificial intelligence regulation.
