Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has proposed a closer partnership with Australia, describing the two nations as 'strategic cousins' rather than competitors. In an address to the Australian federal parliament in Canberra, Carney called for enhanced cooperation on defence, trade, and critical minerals, urging middle powers to work together to push back against dominant superpowers.
Carney announced that Australia will join the G7 critical minerals alliance, the largest grouping of democratic countries with major reserves. Combined, Canada and Australia produce 34% of global lithium stocks, 32% of uranium supply, and 41% of iron ore. The Canadian leader emphasised the need for strategic collaboration to boost investments, accelerate technical cooperation, and enhance supply chain resilience.
During a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Carney reaffirmed the importance of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network, describing it as a well-functioning alliance. Both leaders also discussed the situation in Iran, with Carney expressing concern over the legality of US and Israeli strikes, while Albanese called for the removal of Iran's nuclear threat.
Carney has gained recognition for his advocacy of middle-power diplomacy, urging countries like Japan, India, South Korea, and Canada to band together to protect mutual interests. He stressed the need to build defence capabilities, including next-generation drones, surveillance aircraft, and AI tools, and to provide robust security guarantees for Ukraine once the conflict ends.
