KANANASKIS, Alberta — On the eve of the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Mark Carney met with four key international leaders—strengthening Canada’s global alliances across trade, defence, AI, and climate resilience.
From Ottawa to Calgary to the Rockies, the weekend’s diplomatic blitz included bilateral talks with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Each meeting focused on concrete initiatives to reinforce Canada’s leadership in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
🇨🇦🤝🇬🇧 Canada–UK: A Strategic Partnership for the Future
In Ottawa, Carney and Starmer formalized a structured Canada–UK Economic and Trade Working Group, aimed at dismantling market barriers and expanding collaboration in digital trade, AI infrastructure, and critical minerals. Canada will also introduce legislation to ratify the UK’s accession to the CPTPP this fall.
The two leaders launched the Common Good Cyber Fund, a joint $5.7 million initiative over five years to counter digital repression and support civil society. They also unveiled a $14.8 million joint investment in biomanufacturing, and announced enhanced defence and AI cooperation involving the Canadian AI Safety Institute, the UK’s AI Security Institute, and Canadian AI firm Cohere.
On international affairs, both prime ministers reiterated support for Ukraine, called for a ceasefire in Gaza, and urged de-escalation between Israel and Iran.
🇨🇦🤝🇦🇺 Canada–Australia: Indo-Pacific Unity and Wildfire Support
Meeting in Calgary, Carney and Australian PM Anthony Albanese reinforced Canada–Australia cooperation on defence, especially through shared projects like Over-the-Horizon Radar.
The leaders expressed gratitude for Australia’s deployment of firefighters to Alberta, recognizing their critical role in Canada’s wildfire response. They also explored deeper ties in critical minerals and climate resilience, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific as Five Eyes allies.
Whether it’s trade, security, critical minerals, or even getting Vegemite back on our shelves, Canada and Australia are getting a lot done, together. Great to reconnect with my friend, @AlboMP, before the @G7 Summit.
And on behalf of Canadians, my thanks to the Australians… pic.twitter.com/P23UL7HC3M
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 16, 2025
🇨🇦🤝🇿🇦 Canada–South Africa: G7–G20 Alignment and Climate Resilience
Carney met with President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss synergies under Canada’s G7 and South Africa’s G20 presidencies. Shared priorities included wildfire management, critical minerals, energy security, AI, and economic investment.
With recent South African support in firefighting efforts and growing bilateral trade, both leaders committed to stronger coordination ahead of the G20 Summit in November.
🇨🇦🤝🇩🇪 Canada–Germany: Trade, Energy, and Technological Leadership
At the G7 host site in Kananaskis, Carney sat down with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to advance ties in energy security, quantum and AI technologies, and defence industrial capacity.
Carney positioned Canada as a partner of choice in natural resources and emerging tech, with both leaders reaffirming support for Ukraine’s pursuit of a just and lasting peace.
🌍 Canada Steps Forward on the World Stage
Prime Minister Carney’s string of high-level meetings reflects a government moving quickly to assert global influence, deepen economic ties, and position Canada as a leader in democratic innovation, energy, and defence.
With the 2025 G7 Summit now underway in Alberta, all eyes will be on how Canada turns these partnerships into global progress.
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