French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the French Atlantic territory of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on September 20, 2026. The two leaders greeted each other with a warm handshake and a long embrace at the airport. This meeting took place during a time of strained relations between both countries and the United States.
The leaders' discussion focused on confirming Canada's close relations with France and the European Union. A joint statement was expected to be released after a working lunch. Macron emphasized the strength of their friendship, stating that together, they affirm their sovereignty and willingness to build a future of peace and prosperity.
Prime Minister Carney is the first Canadian prime minister to visit Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a three-island archipelago with a population of fewer than 6,000 people, located 25 kilometers off Newfoundland. Macron's three-day visit is the first by a French president in over a decade. The trip carries significant symbolic resonance as it marks France's only remaining possession in North America.
The visit comes amid tensions with the US, particularly with President Donald Trump's repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st US state. Trump has also threatened to annex Canada and has posted an image on social media with a map of North America, including Canada, Greenland, and several French overseas territories, colored with the US flag.
Macron reaffirmed that Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a French territory, dismissing "strange ideas" on the subject. The joint visit underscored that Canada and France share common values of freedom, democracy, and respect for the sovereignty of nations. The French president's office stated that both countries aim to work together to strengthen their capacity to make decisions and act independently.
Carney's office quoted him as saying that Canada and France share more than a border; they share a history and a commitment to building a more secure and prosperous world. The archipelago faces economic and social problems familiar to many remote territories, including a falling population and the threat of sea level rise, which has prompted the relocation of the village of Miquelon.
The meeting between Macron and Carney highlighted the importance of their relationship in an uncertain world. Both leaders understand the significance of their friendship and its role in promoting peace and prosperity. The visit also brought attention to the strategic importance of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, one of several French overseas territories spanning the globe.
Key points
- Macron and Carney met in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon to affirm Canada's close relations with France and the EU.
- The visit took place amid strained relations between both countries and the US.
- The leaders emphasized their shared values of freedom, democracy, and respect for sovereignty.
