Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Dublin, Ireland, for discussions with European leaders as part of a major international diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening Canada’s trade relationships, attracting investment and expanding international partnerships.
Carney arrived in Dublin on Thursday, November 12, 2026, to participate in the European Political Community (EPC) summit. The gathering brings together leaders from across Europe to discuss major geopolitical and security issues, particularly those arising from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Canada is once again the only non-European country represented at the meeting. Carney previously attended an EPC summit in Armenia in May 2026, becoming the first non-European leader to participate in the forum.
The Dublin summit provides an opportunity for leaders to exchange views on international security, economic cooperation and geopolitical developments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte are among the participants, with Ukraine’s security expected to feature prominently in discussions.
During his visit, Carney is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Greece and Cyprus. Both countries are members of the European Union but have yet to ratify a decade-old trade agreement between Canada and the EU.
Canada and European leaders have also discussed the possibility of Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union. The proposed arrangement is part of broader efforts to strengthen cooperation, although the precise terms of such membership have not yet been established.
Carney’s visit to Ireland is the first stop on a wider international tour running from November 11 to 19. Following the Dublin meeting, he is scheduled to travel to Manila in the Philippines for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
At the ASEAN gathering, Canada hopes to advance negotiations on a free trade agreement with the regional bloc. The Canadian government estimates that such an agreement could unlock more than $3.5 billion in additional export opportunities for Canadian businesses.
Carney is also expected to pursue negotiations on a separate Canada-Philippines free trade agreement, which Ottawa says could significantly increase trade between the two countries.
The prime minister’s itinerary will then take him to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for the Francophonie summit, where discussions will focus on strengthening relationships among French-speaking countries. Canada is scheduled to host the next Francophonie summit in 2028.
His final destination will be Shenzhen, China, where he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The gathering will provide an opportunity to discuss trade, investment and economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
Carney’s planned engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to be an important part of the China visit, as Canada seeks to build on its recently established strategic partnership with Beijing.
The Canadian government says the broader tour reflects its strategy of diversifying international partnerships, expanding access to foreign markets and attracting investment at a time of changing global economic and security relationships.
Swifteradio.com
