Canada's ruling Liberal Party's new leader, Mark Carney, delivers a speech at the Liberal Party leadership announcement event on March 9, 2025 in Ottawa, Canada. Carney will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister. Photo: VCG

 
Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, embarked on his first foreign visit - not to the country's powerful neighbor, the US, but to France and the UK on Monday. This diplomatic debut signaled the Carney administration's "Europe First" approach to multilateral diplomacy. Evidently, US tariffs and sovereignty threats are pushing Canada to restructure its transatlantic partnerships and leverage this shift to diversify its global cooperation, thereby reducing its dependence on the US.

For Canada, the decision to prioritize France and the UK over its traditional ally, the US, marks a strategic shift from "America First" to "Europe First." In fact, even before Carney took office, Canada-US relations had already begun to cool. Evidence of this includes a border closure in 2020, Joe Biden's cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline permit on his first day in office as US president and Canada's absence from various US-led "Indo-Pacific minilateral" initiatives. The new US administration, with its new tariff threats and sovereignty claims, has only reinforced this downward trend. This latest shock serves as a trigger, igniting not only nationalist sentiments among Canadians but also the Canadian government's determination to shift its diplomatic course.

US actions and claims have prompted strong responses from multiple Canadian political figures, including former prime minister Justin Trudeau and Carney. The former's administration announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on more than $20 billion worth of US goods, while the latter has firmly stated that Canada "will never be part of the US."

Against this backdrop, Trudeau's previous alignment with Europe on Ukraine aid and Carney's high-profile first visit to European powers reflect Canada's awareness of the backlash stemming from its heavy reliance on the US. While the effectiveness of this attempt remains to be observed, it indicates that Canada has sent a clear signal of intent to reduce its dependence on the US.

As a "political novice," Carney is starting to "manage" Canada using his economic thinking, beginning with a strategy of diversified collaboration: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." It is evident that he and his predecessors are well aware that the over-reliance on the US is the primary constraint on Canada. However, despite efforts to promote diversified trade since Pierre Trudeau's era, a persistent sense of complacency and a severe lack of crisis awareness led Canada to only begin adjusting its diplomatic approach when it was nearly cornered into a "humiliating loss of sovereignty."

Carney's choice to visit Europe first is understandable. The natural historical, cultural and linguistic connections, stable defense relationships under NATO, and the shared challenges posed by the US administration's policies have fostered a mutual willingness for Canada and Europe to strengthen ties. During this visit, Carney and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the transatlantic security relationship, which may target Russia, but also undoubtedly aims to respond to US' unilateralism.

Additionally, during the new Canadian leader's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders discussed cooperation in areas such as critical minerals, artificial intelligence and defense, as well as stronger ties with the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. 

A "technocrat" who can garner high votes from the electorate should not be underestimated. Carney's professional background, experience and diplomatic decisions demonstrate his distinctiveness. However, whether this path of diversification can go forward hinges on multiple factors, such as the recognition and cooperation of European allies, and perhaps most critically, whether Carney can stabilize his administration quickly.

Currently, while Carney and the Liberal Party's approval ratings have surged in the latest polls, they are still not at a level that guarantees a comfortable win. If Carney fails to secure a majority government position for the next four years, the reform path designed based on the ideals of an economist could face significant challenges or even come to a halt. 

The author is a research fellow of the Center for Canadian Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn