Mark Carney urges Canada and Australia to strengthen alliance as global order shifts

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for closer co-operation between Canada and Australia, warning that the established global order is increasingly fragile and that trusted allies must strengthen their partnerships. Speaking during an address to a joint session of the Australian Parliament in Canberra, the Canadian leader emphasized that countries with shared values and institutions must work together to navigate growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Carney’s speech highlighted the deep historical and political connections between Canada and Australia. The two nations share similar democratic traditions, a common constitutional monarchy under King Charles III, and decades of diplomatic and military co-operation. Addressing lawmakers in Australia’s national legislature, Carney described the two countries as “strategic cousins,” capable of working together to address global challenges such as technological change, economic security, and defence.

During the visit, Carney held talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and members of the Australian cabinet. The leaders discussed new areas of collaboration, including artificial intelligence, defence partnerships and the development of critical minerals needed for modern technologies. Both countries possess large reserves of resources such as lithium, uranium and iron ore, materials that play a key role in manufacturing batteries, electronics and renewable energy systems.

Carney suggested that rather than competing for global markets, Canada and Australia could strengthen their economies by working together. He argued that co-operation between like-minded nations could help middle-sized economies maintain stability at a time when global power competition between larger countries is intensifying.

A major outcome of the visit was the announcement of a new partnership focused on critical minerals. Under the proposed alliance, Canada and Australia will collaborate on exploration, production and processing of minerals essential for emerging technologies and clean energy systems. Together, the two countries control a significant share of the world’s supply of several key resources, giving them an opportunity to shape global supply chains.

The leaders also confirmed progress toward a new tax and investment agreement designed to encourage business partnerships between Canadian and Australian companies. The arrangement aims to remove barriers to investment and deepen trade ties between the two economies.

In his address, Carney noted that the international system built after the Second World War is facing increasing strain due to geopolitical rivalries, economic pressure and technological competition. He argued that countries with similar political traditions must strengthen their partnerships in order to maintain stability and prosperity.

Despite these concerns, the Canadian prime minister stressed that Canada remains committed to international co-operation. However, he suggested that nations may increasingly work through smaller partnerships focused on specific goals rather than relying only on large global institutions. This approach, which he described as creating flexible networks of cooperation, would allow countries to respond more quickly to global challenges.

One example mentioned during the visit is a technology partnership involving Canada, Australia and India, which aims to promote collaboration in emerging industries and digital innovation. Such initiatives are intended to strengthen economic resilience and support new technological development among participating nations.

Carney also pointed to the strong historical ties between the two countries. Canadians and Australians have fought together in past conflicts and share many cultural and political traditions. These connections, he said, create a foundation of trust that can support deeper strategic partnerships.

In welcoming the Canadian leader, Albanese reflected on the long relationship between the two nations. He highlighted the role Canadians have played in Australian history, including immigrants and workers who contributed to early infrastructure projects and labour movements in the country. Albanese said that despite the geographical distance between the nations, their shared democratic values and outlook on global issues have kept them closely aligned.

The Australian prime minister emphasized that cooperation between Canada and Australia will become increasingly important as global challenges grow more complex. He said the two countries should continue building new partnerships that strengthen economic security and support stability across the Indo-Pacific region.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor also welcomed the Canadian prime minister during the parliamentary session. Taylor, who studied at Oxford University at the same time as Carney, recalled their early friendship and praised the Canadian leader’s career in international finance and public service. He described Carney as a leader capable of guiding countries through a changing global landscape.

The visit to Australia is part of a broader effort by the Canadian government to strengthen international partnerships and diversify economic relationships. By working more closely with allies such as Australia, Canada hopes to increase its strategic autonomy and expand its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Carney concluded his address by encouraging both countries to continue building their long-standing partnership. He said stronger cooperation between Canada and Australia could help create a more resilient international environment and open new opportunities for trade, technology and security collaboration in the years ahead.