Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, to 10 Downing Street, marking his first foreign visit since taking office last week.
Mr Carney’s arrival in the UK comes amid growing international cooperation on Ukraine and rising tensions between Ottawa and Washington DC over trade policies. Before his meeting with the British prime minister, Mr Carney also visited Buckingham Palace, where he was received by King Charles III.
Sir Keir described the visit as “fantastic”, emphasising the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
Strengthening UK-Canada relations
The Labour leader highlighted the importance of the UK-Canada relationship, noting that it has always been built on a foundation of shared history, values, and even a common monarch.
“Two sovereign allies with so much in common, shared history, shared values, shared King,” Sir Keir said, reaffirming Britain’s close ties with Canada.
Sir Keir also took the opportunity to praise Mr Carney for his contributions during his tenure as Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, stating that he helped to “protect us against some of the economic chaos of the Conservatives”.
Mr Carney, a former central banker, made history as the first non-Briton to lead the Bank of England and played a key role in stabilising the UK economy during periods of uncertainty, including the aftermath of the Brexit referendum.
Talks on Ukraine and global security
The discussions at Downing Street also focused heavily on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Canada has been actively involved in talks regarding a coalition of nations willing to contribute to a peacekeeping force in the war-torn country.
Sir Keir expressed his gratitude for Canada’s commitment, saying:
“It doesn’t surprise me that our two countries see this through a similar lens, with the same objectives.”
Mr Carney echoed this sentiment, praising the UK’s leadership on Ukraine.
“We’re at a point in history where the world is being reordered, and your leadership, the leadership of the UK, I’ll use the example… of Ukraine, what you’ve been able to do with President Macron to bring together a coalition of the willing at a crucial time, I think, will be decisive, must be decisive, in coming to a lasting solution there.”
Downing Street later confirmed that Mr Carney had described his participation in a virtual meeting of world leaders—hosted by Sir Keir over the weekend—as an “honour” and his first international engagement since taking office.
Rising tensions with the US
Beyond Ukraine, the meeting also touched upon Canada’s growing trade dispute with the United States. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the US has reimposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium, sparking concerns over a potential trade war.
Trump has also made controversial remarks suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of the US, a proposal dismissed outright by Canadian officials. The ongoing tensions between Ottawa and Washington have raised questions about the future of North American trade relations and Canada’s economic strategy under Mr Carney’s leadership.
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Carney’s return to politics
Mr Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, has had a long and varied career in both finance and public service. His return to frontline politics follows years of speculation about his ambitions beyond central banking.
Having served as Governor of the Bank of Canada before taking over the Bank of England, Mr Carney has built a reputation as a pragmatic leader with a deep understanding of global markets and economic policy.
As Canada’s new prime minister, he faces immediate challenges, including revitalising the country’s economy, navigating trade disputes with the US, and reinforcing Canada’s role in international security efforts.
A strengthened partnership
Mr Carney’s visit to Downing Street is seen as a symbolic step towards reinforcing UK-Canada ties in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape. With both leaders committed to strengthening diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation, the meeting set the stage for closer collaboration in the months ahead.
While Canada and the UK remain firm allies, the evolving global challenges—from the Ukraine crisis to trade tensions with the US—will test the strength of this historic partnership.
For now, both Sir Keir Starmer and Mark Carney appear eager to work together to shape a future of shared prosperity and security.
