Carney in Armenia to deepen Canada Europe ties

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published May 3, 2026

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, to take part in the European Political Community Summit, in a move Ottawa is presenting as part of a broader push to strengthen Canada’s partnerships with Europe on security, trade, energy, defence, and advanced technology.

The visit marks Canada’s first participation in the European Political Community Summit and the first time a non-European leader has joined the gathering, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Carney is attending the summit from May 2 to May 4, 2026, at the invitation of European Council President António Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The summit comes at a sensitive moment for global security, with the war in Ukraine still shaping European defence priorities and governments looking for stronger transatlantic coordination. Ottawa says Carney will use the meetings to advance support for Ukraine, reinforce collective security and defence readiness, and position Canada as a destination for global investment in critical minerals, energy, defence, and advanced technologies.

Carney met Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan ahead of the summit, during what is also the first official visit to Armenia by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade. The visit comes as Armenia seeks closer ties with Europe, while Canada looks for new diplomatic and economic space in a more unstable international environment.

The economic dimension is significant for Canada. Canada-EU trade in goods and services reached $178.6 billion in 2025, while Canadian direct investment in the European Union totalled $297 billion in 2024, according to official Canadian figures. Ottawa sees deeper cooperation with Europe as a way to create more opportunities for Canadian companies, workers, and industries.

Carney’s participation follows a series of Canadian moves to deepen ties with Europe, including the Canada-EU Strategic Partnership of the Future, the Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership, and Canada’s February 2026 entry into the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative. Ottawa says those steps could open billions of dollars in opportunities for Canadian defence industries, businesses, and workers.