Carney warns of global rupture ahead of G7, urges Canada-EU unity
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that the post-Cold War rules-based order is "breaking down" and urged middle powers to work together ahead of next week's Group of Seven summit. He made the remarks on Saturday at the launch of the De Chastelain Public Lecture series at Trinity College in Dublin, where Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin was among those present. Carney said Canada and Ireland were "navigating a global rupture, not a quiet transition", framing the moment as one of strategic change rather than routine diplomatic tension.
Sponsored
Carney said multilateral institutions had weakened and that economic integration, which he said had benefited countries such as Canada and Ireland, was being weaponised. He also said the international trading system that many states have relied on for decades was under threat. In his comments, he did not name any country as violating the rules-based order, but he spoke in broad terms about superpower dominance and the need for collective strength among what he called "middle powers".
The remarks come as Canada faces heightened friction with the United States, its largest neighbour and a longstanding ally. The article says President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Canada since returning to the White House for a second term, including by calling for Canada to become the US "51st state" and by using tariffs to push Canadian policy on trade and immigration. Both Carney and Trump are expected to attend the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, from 15 to 17 June, giving the dispute a wider diplomatic backdrop.
Carney's appeal also reflects a broader effort by some G7 members, including the European Union, to reduce dependence on the United States amid rising tensions. His comments suggest Canada is seeking closer alignment with European partners at a time when trade, sovereignty and the future of multilateral institutions are under renewed strain. The setting in Dublin, with Ireland's leader in attendance, underlined the message that smaller and medium-sized economies may need to coordinate more closely as global power blocs harden.
Sponsored
The speech fits into a wider debate about how countries outside the largest powers respond to a more fragmented international system. Carney's language about a "global rupture" and a weakening trading system points to concerns that long-standing economic and diplomatic rules are becoming less predictable. For Canada, the issue is especially sensitive because of its deep economic ties to the United States and its interest in preserving stable trade arrangements.
What remains unclear is how far Carney's call for unity will translate into concrete policy at the G7 summit. The article does not say whether he plans to announce specific initiatives, and it does not identify any direct response from Washington. The main developments to watch are whether Canada and European partners present a more coordinated position in France, and whether the summit produces any sign of a shared approach to trade, sovereignty and multilateral cooperation.
Sponsored
