Canada and France Strengthen Defense and Industrial Ties Ahead of G7 Summit
Canada and France are set to deepen their defense and industrial cooperation through a new general information security agreement, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in Paris on Friday. The agreement was revealed during a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Palais de l’Elysée.
Carney emphasized the growing collaboration between companies in both countries across key sectors including energy, defense, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence. “That means the ability to share classified information between our defense, our space, our AI and our aerospace sectors,” he said.
Expanded Defense Procurement Opportunities
According to Carney’s office, the agreement will expand Canadian industry’s access to French defense procurement opportunities and enhance competitiveness for contract bids in France. This development complements Canada’s recent participation in the European SAFE instrument, a €150 billion loan program designed to accelerate defense procurement across the European Union. Canada’s involvement grants the country preferential access to contracts funded under the program.
The bilateral meeting also covered discussions on trade, energy, and critical minerals. Notably, the leaders discussed France’s recent purchase of two de Havilland water bombers from Calgary, Alberta.
Pre-Summit Diplomacy Before G7
The meeting, which took place just before the G7 summit scheduled for June 15-17 in Évian-les-Bains, France, marked at least the seventh one-on-one meeting between the two leaders since Carney took office in March 2025. France assumed the G7 presidency from Canada in January, with priorities for this year’s summit including addressing major geopolitical crises and continued support for Ukraine.
When asked whether he had offered Macron advice on dealing with US President Donald Trump at the summit, Carney praised Macron’s experience, noting that the French president had been attending G7 summits for a long time. He added that Macron’s direct speaking style made him “well-suited” to engage with G7 leaders, including Trump.
Online Safety Legislation
Beyond defense and trade, Macron and Carney discussed efforts to protect children online, an area where both countries share common goals. France recently passed legislation banning social media for children under 15, reflecting a growing movement across Europe to establish minimum age requirements for platform use.
In parallel, Canada’s Liberal government introduced its own online safety legislation this week. Bill C-34, presented in the House of Commons on Wednesday, would require social media companies to block access to children under 16, though platforms could receive exemptions if they implement sufficient security measures. The bill also introduces regulations for AI chatbot companies, imposing a duty to act responsibly by reducing the risk of harmful content and establishing crisis intervention protocols for cases involving self-harm, suicide, or violence.
Macron welcomed Canada’s legislative move on Thursday, expressing gratitude for joining the broader movement.
G7 Summit Expectations
Senator Peter Boehm, who served as personal representative for previous Canadian prime ministers at six G7 summits, noted that Carney’s pre-summit visit provided an opportunity for strategic coordination between the two leaders. He expected Carney to demonstrate “pragmatic diplomacy” at the international event, building on the attention generated by his Davos speech earlier this year.
At the World Economic Forum in January, Carney warned that the world had entered a risky new age of great power rivalries and that Canada was actively working to diversify its trade relationships beyond the United States in response to Trump’s trade policies.
This year’s summit in Évian-les-Bains will be Macron’s 10th and final G7 summit as president, with his second and final term ending in May 2027.
No Comprehensive Communiqué Expected
A Canadian government official confirmed that there will be no comprehensive final communiqué issued at the conclusion of the summit. Instead, leaders will release issue-specific statements throughout the event. Carney acknowledged that certain issues may reveal divergent views among G7 partners, citing the range of approaches to AI as an example.
While Carney dismissed the notion of a “G6 plus one” dynamic, emphasizing that all G7 leaders are seeking common solutions, Boehm suggested the decision to forgo a unified communiqué was likely influenced by the challenge of reaching credible consensus.
Geopolitical Concerns on the Agenda
Boehm noted that broader geopolitical issues will factor prominently into summit discussions, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the global repercussions of the Trump administration’s significant cuts to foreign aid.
Carney stated that Canada stands ready to help preserve the Strait of Hormuz once it reopens and expressed hope for progress toward a cessation of hostilities. “Canada will seek to do its part so that we can support broader efforts when the opportunity arises,” he said, adding that the situation in Lebanon must be part of any broader solution.
Strong Bilateral Economic Ties
France remains a significant economic partner for Canada, serving as the country’s third-largest goods export market in the European Union and its fifth-largest source of foreign investment. The new defense and information security agreement is expected to further strengthen this relationship across multiple strategic sectors.
