French President Emmanuel Macron has used a visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon to underline France’s relationship with Canada, as both countries explore closer cooperation with the European Union on strategic supplies and wider geopolitical issues.
Macron is due to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday, 20 September, during his visit to the French overseas collectivity. The meeting comes amid growing discussion about Canada’s relationship with Brussels, including the possibility of an associate status with the EU.
Macron presents meeting with Carney as gesture of friendship
Macron arrived in Saint Pierre and Miquelon on 19 September for a visit scheduled to continue until 21 September. The archipelago lies off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador and is France’s last remaining territory in North America.
Speaking to reporters, Macron said the purpose of the trip was to help the territory “turn a new page”. He rejected the idea that the visit should be viewed primarily as a message directed at other governments, saying France should not be “obsessed with sending messages”.
However, the planned meeting with Carney carries clear diplomatic significance. Macron described it as “a very strong gesture of friendship” and referred to what he called the Canadian leader’s developing relationship with Brussels.
The encounter is expected to include a working lunch, a wreath-laying ceremony and a joint statement before Carney returns to Ottawa. Macron will then travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Critical minerals and LNG central to European interest
The discussions are also linked to Europe’s efforts to strengthen access to strategic resources. Macron pointed to Canada’s reserves of critical raw materials and rare earth elements, alongside its liquefied natural gas production.
France and the EU are expected to seek contracts and other arrangements that could help secure supplies for European industry and energy markets. Critical minerals are used in sectors including advanced manufacturing, batteries and clean technologies, while LNG can contribute to energy diversification.
The comments reflect broader EU policy concerns over supply-chain resilience. European governments have sought to reduce exposure to concentrated sources of raw materials and energy, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions and disruption to established trade relationships.
Why the resources matter
- Critical minerals: These materials support industries such as electronics, batteries, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.
- Rare earth elements: They are important for magnets, defence-related equipment and several high-technology applications.
- LNG: Canadian production could become part of Europe’s wider effort to diversify energy supplies.
- EU-Canada cooperation: Trade and investment arrangements could help connect Canadian resources with European demand.
Possible Canadian relationship with the EU draws US criticism
The meeting takes place after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Canada could become the EU’s first “associate member”. The proposal has attracted criticism from US President Donald Trump, who described the idea as “laughable” and warned of possible tariffs or restrictions on trade with Europe if he regarded the move as hostile.
The source material does not establish that associate membership has been formally agreed. Any such arrangement would therefore need to be treated as a political proposal or developing diplomatic idea rather than an existing EU status.
The issue highlights the delicate balance facing Canada and European governments. Closer ties could support trade, investment, energy security and strategic cooperation, while also creating concerns in Washington about changing North Atlantic partnerships.
Greenland adds to the regional backdrop
The Macron-Carney meeting is also taking place against a wider North American and Arctic diplomatic backdrop. Earlier in September, Trump shared an image showing a map of North America that included Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Greenland marked with the US flag.
The United States and Denmark announced on Friday that they had reached an agreement concerning Greenland. Trump said the arrangement would provide Washington with permanent control of the island’s security. According to the source material, the agreement is expected to be signed during the United Nations General Assembly next week.
Macron’s visit is not presented as a formal response to that agreement. His public comments instead focused on France’s links with Canada, the future of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the potential for economic cooperation.
What happens next?
Carney is scheduled to arrive in Saint Pierre and Miquelon at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time, according to his office. The two leaders will then hold their working lunch and attend the wreath-laying ceremony before issuing a joint statement.
Macron’s subsequent trip to New York will place the bilateral meeting within a broader diplomatic programme involving the United Nations General Assembly. Further details about France-Canada cooperation, strategic minerals, LNG or Canada’s possible relationship with the EU may emerge through official statements after the meeting.
For the EU, the immediate significance lies in the possibility of stronger cooperation with a major North American partner. For France, Saint Pierre and Miquelon provides a distinctive setting for reinforcing its presence in the North Atlantic and highlighting the territory’s links with both Canada and the wider European project.
Conclusion
Macron’s Saint Pierre and Miquelon visit places France-Canada relations at the centre of a wider diplomatic conversation involving the EU, strategic resources and North Atlantic security. The planned meeting with Carney is a symbolic gesture, but its practical importance will depend on whether it leads to concrete agreements on trade, critical minerals, LNG or Canada’s future relationship with Brussels.
