Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney touched down in Sydney on Tuesday, kicking off a crucial leg of his Indo-Pacific tour designed to attract investment to Canada and solidify trade partnerships in a volatile region.
He is scheduled to hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a fellow centre-left leader whose worldview aligns closely with his own, before making history as the first Canadian PM in nearly two decades to address the Australian parliament.
His speech there will echo the themes of his standout Davos address, urging “middle powers” to band together against economic pressures from global giants. This follows Carney’s triumphant India visit, where he sealed £15 billion in deals on clean energy and infrastructure—a breakthrough after years of strained ties.
Expect deep dives into defence, maritime security, critical minerals, trade, and AI during the Australia stop, with Carney’s team emphasising meetings with business leaders to channel funds back home. The nations’ £28 billion annual trade, bolstered by Australia’s key role in Canada’s lithium supply, underscores their century-plus bond forged through shared Commonwealth roots and alliances like Five Eyes.
Both leaders rode to power on the “Trump effect”—the uncertainty from U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 return—winning elections days apart as voters sought stability amid tariff threats that have since hiked Aussie export costs by 8 per cent.
“Canada is one of Australia’s closest friends, built on generations of trust, with a shared commitment to supporting stability across the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” said the Australian prime minister in a statement ahead of his meeting with Carney. “As our countries face new challenges and opportunities, we must deepen our cooperation with partners to promote our national interests.”
“Middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” Carney declared in Davos, advocating “greater strategic autonomy” for nations like theirs. Albanese called it “consistent” with Australia’s stance in a recent TV interview.
Pre-parliament, Carney speaks at Sydney’s Lowy Institute on global shifts and middle-power prospects, paving the way to expand their £5 billion critical minerals pact and defence collaborations, from South China Sea patrols to Arctic radar tech.
Amid U.S.-Iran tensions spiking oil prices, and post the 19 February arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—whom Albanese wants stripped from throne succession, unlike silent Carney—the duo will assess ripples for their countries.
Carney departs for Japan on 6 March after Sydney and Canberra stops.