Carney and Macron set to deepen Canada-France ties in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 20, 2026

Photo Courtesy: The Canadian Press

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to meet Sunday in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, in a symbolic show of closer ties between Canada and France.

The two leaders will hold a working lunch and wreath-laying ceremony in the French territory located about 20 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland. Carney will become the first Canadian prime minister to make an official visit to the archipelago.

The meeting comes as Canada and the European Union explore deeper cooperation, while Ottawa faces continued trade tensions with the United States. Carney has recently welcomed the possibility of Canada becoming the EU’s first associate member.

The Prime Minister’s Office said discussions will cover aerospace, energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies, including quantum science, satellites and supercomputing. The leaders are also expected to discuss regional cooperation involving fishing, transportation, travel, university exchanges and trade.

The location also carries strategic significance. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is France’s only remaining territory in North America, giving France a presence in the North Atlantic close to Canada’s eastern coast and the Arctic.

The leaders will also take part in a ceremony at a memorial for Free France volunteers. In 1941, Free French forces took control of the islands from the Vichy regime during the Second World War.

The meeting reflects Canada’s broader effort to strengthen relationships with European partners while expanding cooperation in trade, energy, technology and security.