The Prime Minister of Canada, , and the President of France, (Renaissance, center), met, this Friday (June 12, 2026), at the Elysium Palace, in Paris. At the bilateral meeting, the leaders reaffirmed the historic ties between the 2 countries and signed the General Information Security Agreement (GSOIA), a treaty that will facilitate the sharing of confidential intelligence in the areas of defense, space security, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, maritime systems and cybersecurity.
The appointment in the French capital serves as a prelude to the 52nd Leaders’ Summit, which takes place from June 15 to 17, in Évian-les-Bains, in eastern France. According to the official statement, the new military pact should unlock industrial acquisition contracts, facilitate Canada’s access to France’s public defense contracting market and open market fronts for technology companies from both nations. Bilateral trade between the 2 countries generated 15.2 billion Canadian dollars in 2025.
COMMERCIAL AND AEROSPACE AGREEMENTS
During the work meeting, the representatives reviewed ongoing commercial contracts. Progress in aerospace cooperation was highlighted, including the French government’s recent purchase of two additional DHC 515 firefighting aircraft, manufactured by Canadian De Havilland Aircraft. The new planes will join the European fleet to respond to climate and fire emergencies.
The heads of government also discussed strategies to attract joint investments in energy transition, critical minerals supply chains and energy infrastructure. In planning for the G7 discussions, Macron and Carney agreed to prioritize action against global macroeconomic imbalances, regulatory certainty for AI and advancing a bilateral partnership in science and quantum computing.
HUMANITARIAN AID
The diplomatic agenda in France also included humanitarian measures. At the same time as the leaders’ meeting, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced the transfer of US$100 million in medical and food assistance to the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, during an international donor conference in Paris.
At Elysium, Macron and Carney endorsed the sending of resources and defended the coordinated effort with international partners to guarantee the flow of civil support to conflict zones. The 2 leaders also took advantage of the meeting to reiterate the Western bloc’s continued financial and military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
O G7
The G7 is a group without its own headquarters, based on summit diplomacy, which includes the 7 largest economies in the world (Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States).
The group’s presidency is rotated annually among the member countries, with the chosen one being responsible for hosting the Leaders’ Summit of the year in question. The group’s meetings discuss issues of international interest, such as finance, the environment and foreign relations.
