Conflict in the Middle East | Mark Carney welcomes Iran-US deal

Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading to Évian-les-Bains, France, on Monday for the G7 Summit, the day after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to end the conflict in Iran.

Trump announced the agreement on Sunday, adding that he had authorized the lifting of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, but later clarified that the strait would not be reopened until Friday, when the agreement would be officially signed.

In a joint statement released Monday, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom congratulated the United States and the Iranian government for this “diplomatic breakthrough.”

“This is the ideal time to restore regional stability and stabilize the global economy,” they argued.

The signatories reiterated that it is “essential” that detailed negotiations are concluded and that this agreement is implemented “promptly and fully”. They are committed to supporting this effort.

They also called the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “urgent,” pleading for “unconditional and unrestricted” freedom of navigation. They are committed to playing their role, in particular through a “strictly defensive and independent mission aimed at reassuring commercial traffic and carrying out mine clearance operations”.

“Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” continued the leaders, who said they were ready to work with the United States, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to this end.

“We are prepared to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear and verifiable steps by Iran regarding its nuclear program,” they said.

The leaders also promised to work with the United States, Iran and regional partners to “seize this opportunity, maintain momentum and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement.”

“We also reaffirm our full support for the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and the importance of a robust ceasefire,” they concluded.

On social media, Mr. Carney wrote earlier Monday that Canada continues to call for a lasting ceasefire that will ensure both the safe and unhindered crossing of the Strait of Hormuz and counter the “omnipresent” threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.

“As negotiations continue, we urge all parties to engage in good faith and avoid escalation of conflict,” Carney said.

Iran, Ukraine, trade and AI

While in Ireland this weekend, Mr. Carney told Irish news channel RTE that the war in Iran would be the “number one” topic at the G7.

He added that the war in Ukraine was also a major issue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit.

On Monday, the Prime Minister is due to meet the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. He will also participate in a working dinner devoted to geopolitical and economic issues.

Mr. Trump is expected to attend this year’s summit, as are other G7 leaders, as well as the heads of state of Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea.

It is not known whether Mr. Carney will meet Mr. Trump in Évian, but we know that a meeting is planned between the minister responsible for Canada-United States Trade, Dominic LeBlanc, and the American Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the summit – his last as head of state – on the theme of economic imbalances.

Mr. Carney told reporters in Ireland that standards, regulation and accountability for artificial intelligence would also be part of the discussions.

France has warned that there will be no overall joint communiqué at the end of the summit – such a document was once issued at every summit, but has become more difficult to produce due to geopolitical divisions. France will instead issue a series of statements throughout the event.

New world order

On Sunday, Mr. Carney argued that the United States would play a role in a new world order where no single institution or country has all the answers.

“What we must not do at this stage, in a changing world order, is rely on a single set of institutions, a single group or a single country to provide the answers,” he argued during his visit to Ireland.

The day before, he had suggested that the “threads” of a new world order could be woven at the G7.

Asked what role the United States might play in this new order, Carney said some countries are on the same page on issues such as what to do about artificial intelligence and child safety, while others favor a laissez-faire approach.

“At the center of Canada’s concerns is the issue of child safety. Laissez-faire is not a solution. We are moving forward,” he said.

“Not everyone will do it,” Mr. Carney added. In some circumstances, the United States will support us wholeheartedly, but not always. »

Social networks and private life

Last week, Mr. Carney’s government introduced a bill that would include forcing social media companies to ban children under 16 from accessing their platforms. Bill C-34 would also regulate artificial intelligence chatbots.

International support for age restrictions on social media has been growing since Australia became the first country to introduce a ban. Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea have already introduced similar measures or are considering doing so.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, in turn announced on Monday that his government was working to ban access to social networks for young people under the age of 16.

This week, the Liberal government in Ottawa will also introduce a privacy bill, which should include measures to protect children’s data. It should also include provisions ensuring that Canadians’ data is not used for surveillance purposes.

The G7 includes Canada, France, the United States, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy. The European Union is also participating in the discussions, although it is not mentioned in the group’s name.

With information from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Washington, as well as Dylan Robertson and Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa