Macron and Carney put Saint Pierre and Miquelon at centre of closer France–Canada ties
The leaders’ planned meeting in the French territory highlights shared strategic interests as tensions with the United States grow.
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a three-day visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, where he is due to host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday.
Carney’s visit would be the first by a Canadian prime minister to the French archipelago, while Macron is the first French president to visit since François Hollande in 2014. The meeting is intended to underline closer France–Canada cooperation and shared commitments to democracy, sovereignty and the rule of law.
The visit comes as Canada considers a more direct relationship with Europe. Carney has supported a proposal for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member”, although no agreement has been confirmed.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon comprises three islands about 25 kilometres off Newfoundland and has fewer than 6,000 residents. It is France’s only remaining territory in North America, and France and Canada share a maritime border as well as historical, political and cultural links.
The territory also faces population decline, the effects of the collapse of its fishing industry and rising sea levels. Miquelon village has begun relocating inland in response to the growing threat from sea-level rise.
The Élysée has framed the meeting as part of a broader effort by France and Canada to strengthen their ability to act independently amid geopolitical tensions and new forms of dependency.
