UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Heads to Canada for Crucial Talks

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Saturday evening to discuss security and trade. The meeting comes ahead of the G7 summit, hosted by Carney, which begins in the province of Alberta on Sunday.

The two leaders will focus on strengthening the economic and security partnership between the two nations, with Carney’s office stating the aim is to “strengthen the long-standing economic and security partnership between the two nations”.

The talks will take place against the backdrop of growing concerns about Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada and repeated threats to annex the country. Trump has repeatedly suggested turning Canada into the US’s 51st state and imposed tariffs that led to retaliation from Ottawa.

Carney has been blunt in his rejection of Trump’s branding of Canada, expressing irritation that Starmer had extended an invitation for a state visit to the UK for Trump amidst questioning of Canada’s sovereignty.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for Starmer and Carney to discuss ongoing trade agreement negotiations between the UK and Canada. Negotiations broke down early last year due to a dispute over beef and cheese, but officials from both sides have remained in contact. Starmer’s trade pact with the US, struck last month, included relief on steel and aluminum tariffs, but implementation is yet to be finalized.

On Sunday, Starmer and Carney will join Trump and other world leaders, including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for three days of talks at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This will be the first face-to-face gathering of world leaders since Israel’s strikes on Iran. The G7 summit will provide a platform for the leaders to discuss pressing global issues, including security, trade, and economic cooperation.