Date: September 20, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
SAINT-PIERRE AND MIQUELON — French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to strengthen cooperation between France and Canada on Sunday as they met in the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, an Atlantic archipelago just off Canada's eastern coast.
The meeting came at a time of strained relations between Canada and the United States and increasing efforts by Ottawa to deepen its economic and strategic relationships with Europe. The location also carried symbolic significance after U.S. President Donald Trump recently shared a map depicting Saint-Pierre and Miquelon under the U.S. flag, along with Canada and other parts of North America.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is France's only remaining territory in North America. Macron's visit was the first by a French president since François Hollande travelled there in 2014, while Carney became the first Canadian prime minister to visit the territory. French officials said the visit highlighted France's sovereignty over the islands and the close relationship between France and Canada.
Macron addressed Trump's map after arriving in the territory, saying there was no doubt that the islands were French. He said France would not need to repeatedly reaffirm its sovereignty simply because people expressed what he described as unusual ideas about the territory.
The archipelago, which has a population of about 5,800, has strategic importance because of its location in the North Atlantic, close to Canada, the United States and the Arctic. French officials have pointed to its maritime position, its connection to Arctic and North Atlantic interests, climate-change concerns and its role in cooperation with Canada as reasons for its broader significance.
At a joint appearance, Carney said Canada and France were facing a changing international environment marked by geopolitical tensions, climate change, challenges to democratic institutions and questions surrounding national sovereignty. He said the time had come for the two countries to strengthen their relationship.
Macron said France and Canada had agreed to pursue closer cooperation in areas including space, climate and energy. He also emphasized their shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, international law, free and fair trade and what he described as strategic autonomy.
Energy was one of the major practical issues discussed by the two leaders. Macron said Canada could play a larger role in supplying liquefied natural gas to Europe, particularly as European countries continue to address energy-security concerns. He indicated that Canadian LNG projects could contribute to European energy supplies.
The discussions also touched on Canada's increasingly close relationship with the European Union. The EU has opened the door to discussions about creating an associate-member relationship for Canada, although Ottawa has stressed that it is not seeking full membership in the bloc. Carney has described the proposed relationship as a “unique alliance” based on shared values and complementary strengths.
Macron has expressed support for stronger Canada-EU ties. However, deeper economic integration could face challenges. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union has been provisionally applied for years, but several EU member states, including France, have yet to complete ratification.
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of an increasingly difficult trade relationship between Canada and the United States. Ottawa has been working to diversify its economic relationships as trade tensions with Washington have intensified, while seeking additional opportunities with European and other international partners.
The symbolism of the Saint-Pierre and Miquelon meeting was therefore significant, particularly because the territory was included in Trump's social-media map showing the U.S. flag over a broad area that included Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the French territories. France did not publicly respond to the post when it was initially published, but Macron's subsequent visit brought renewed attention to French sovereignty over the islands.
For Canada, the visit also provided an opportunity to emphasize its relationship with France at a time when Ottawa is seeking stronger links with European institutions and governments. For France, the territory provides a geographical and strategic link with Canada and a continuing French presence in North America.
Macron and Carney are expected to continue their discussions on economic, energy and strategic cooperation as both leaders participate in the wider diplomatic activity surrounding the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The meeting does not itself create a new political alliance, but the two governments' stated intention to deepen cooperation reflects broader efforts by France and Canada to expand their partnership in areas ranging from energy and climate policy to security, technology and trade.