Canada’s PM Mark Carney Courts Indo-Pacific with Defence, Trade and Tech Deals in First Major Overseas Push
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has wrapped up his first official tour of the Indo-Pacific with a pointed message: Canada is done playing small. In a world fractured by geopolitical rivalries and global trade shocks, Carney unveiled a suite of new security, economic and technology partnerships -- signalling Ottawa’s strategic pivot away from its long-standing overdependence on U.S. trade.
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From energy to submarines to cybersecurity, Carney’s new strategy repositions Canada in a fast-changing region defined by both economic ambition and military competition.
The marquee announcement came alongside South Korean President Lee Jae-myung: the launch of the Canada–Republic of Korea Security and Defence Cooperation Partnership -- a first-of-its-kind framework for Canada in the Indo-Pacific.
It will boost joint efforts on cyber and space defence, hybrid threats, and intelligence sharing. A separate General Security of Information Agreement was also finalised, opening the door for streamlined procurement and industrial collaboration.
“Korea is a major player in global defence innovation and energy supply chains. This partnership is a leap forward,” a senior Canadian official said.
The visit also included a stop at the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard, one of the two finalists for Canada’s multi-billion-dollar submarine procurement project.
Carney’s visit marked a shift not only in regional emphasis but in tone. “The world is changing fast, and Canada must bet big -- on our people, our ideas, and our future,” he declared.
“The Indo-Pacific presents enormous opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses. Canada is ready to play to win.”
In addition to South Korea, Carney held meetings with leaders from Australia, Japan, Chile, China, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand -- pushing trade negotiations and signing investment and technology agreements.
A notable outcome was the formal launch of free trade talks with Thailand and a revitalised Canada-Chile Strategic Partnership, covering clean energy, critical minerals and wildfire resilience.
Perhaps most geopolitically sensitive was Carney’s first official meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both sides agreed to reset bilateral ties after years of tensions.
They pledged to resolve long-standing trade issues -- including disputes over canola, seafood, and electric vehicles — and explore joint efforts in clean energy and agri-tech. Xi invited Carney to visit China in the near future.
Carney also pitched Canada’s tech edge to Korean investors, spotlighting the country’s capabilities in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and clean energy, while promising fast-tracked approvals for infrastructure megaprojects back home.
Canada’s offer to host APEC in 2029 further signals its ambitions to lead within the multilateral economic bloc, whose 21 member economies account for over 60% of global GDP and nearly 85% of Canada’s global trade.
The Indo-Pacific is already Canada’s second-largest trading partner, but accounts for only 10% of its exports -- an imbalance Carney seems determined to fix.
By aligning Canada more closely with the region’s rising economies, Carney’s early foreign policy is drawing a bold new map: one that moves Canada beyond its traditional comfort zones and into the centre of 21st-century power corridors.