Overview
- At a Canberra news conference, Mark Carney said Canada cannot categorically rule out joining military action in the widening Iran conflict, while stressing de-escalation and the need to block Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
- Carney said the United States and Israel acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting allies, urged all parties to follow international law, and condemned Iranian strikes on civilians and infrastructure.
- Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled plans to expand cooperation in energy, critical minerals, defence and AI, including a regular defence ministers’ meeting, new economic-security talks, and Australia’s move to join the G7 Critical Minerals Alliance.
- In Tokyo on Friday, Canada and Japan signed a strategic partnership to deepen work on defence, energy, trade and technology, with steps that include joint coast guard exercises, closer cyber policy coordination, LNG and critical-minerals collaboration, and a forthcoming Team Canada trade mission.
- Carney’s evolving messages on the Iran war drew domestic pushback, with polling by the Angus Reid Institute indicating fewer than half of Canadians support air strikes on Iran.