Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney calls for middle powers to unite in address to Australia’s Parliament

Mark Carney has used a rare address to Australia’s Parliament to call for middle powers to unite in the wake of a “rupture” to the international rules-based order.

Much of the Canadian Prime Minister’s speech was seen as a response to the more confrontational global environment during Donald Trump’s presidency and echoed his viral World Economic Forum address in Davos in January.

He described Canada and Australia as “strategic cousins” and insisted middle-sized, like-minded democracies need to band together to build strategic alliances and boost sovereignty to avoid reliance on superpowers and vulnerability to economic coercion.

Mr Carney highlighted the ongoing Middle East conflict in the wake of the US-Israel strikes on Iran as an example of the fractured world order and as a clear example of why building sovereign capabilities was vital.

He told parliamentarians on Thursday that amid a world engulfed by “great power rivalry”, middle powers have a choice “compete for favour or combine for strength”.

“In the new global environment, the ability to form effective coalitions is becoming a central strategic capability,” he said.

“The question for middle powers like us is whether we establish the conventions and write the new rules that will determine our security and prosperity or let the hegemons increasingly dictate outcomes?

“The world will always be shaped by great powers. But it can also be shaped by middle powers that trust each other enough to act with speed and purpose.”

His speech marks the first by a Canadian leader in almost two decades and comes during a three-day trip to Australia to shore up the two countries’ trade alliance, investments and to deepen defence ties.

Mr Carney acknowledged the last Canadian leader to address the Federal parliament, which was Stephen Harper in 2007 during the tail end of the former Howard government, insisting the world had dramatically changed since that “era”.

“While much has changed since then, these qualities endure, as does the friendship between our Nations,” Mr Carney said.

In a short speech welcoming Mr Carney to the Parliament, Anthony Albanese acknowledged the need for like-minded nations to unite amid “a world that is changing”.

“If ever, nations such as ours have the luxury of imagining that distance alone kept us safe, those days are certainly gone,” he told the House of Representatives.

“For us, as two democracies in an age of polarisation, as two dynamic trading nations in a time of disruptive supply chains, and as two middle powers in an era of strategic competition, Australia and Canada must seek and create new ways to stand with and for each other.”

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor went one step further to describe the rules-based international order as “wishful thinking of a bygone era” amid “these times when autocratic regimes act with impunity”.

“Your speech in Switzerland in January was a much-needed wake-up call for middle powers of the West,” he said, agreeing with his former Oxford friend turned politician.

“We must indeed stop invoking rules-based international order as our functions.

“In this brave new world, middle powers cannot simply build higher walls to retreat behind.

“We must work together. We must act together, closer than ever, on defence, on secure supply chains and sovereign capabilities, on maintaining free trade.”

CRITICAL MINERALS

Mr Carney said Australia and Canada shared several mutual strategic interests, signalling out both nations unique position on critical minerals and welcoming the signing of a new deal on the strategic assets while in Canberra.

The leaders vowed to deepen collaboration on investments, share technical expertise on mapping deposits and improving extraction, and develop a Canada-Australia Mining Skills Exchange Pilot, among other declarations.

Critical minerals — vital for everything from cars and household gadgets to high-tech defence assets — have been an increasingly hot topic after world dominant China tightened its export rules on them which angered the US President.

Mr Albanese said the deal, which was penned in Parliament on Thursday, was about avoiding economic dependence, building resilience, and making their sovereign strategies stronger.

Speaking in Canberra, Mr Albanese said the partnership aligned with his Future Made in Australia strategy.

“Both of us are seeking to diversify… trading relationships and make sure that we’re not vulnerable to a shock of any one particular nation and a breakdown in those relationships,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Carney said combined, the Commonwealth nations produce 34 per cent of global lithium, 32pc of uranium supply, 41pc of iron ore.

“Together, we produce 34 per cent of global lithium, 32pc of uranium supply, 41pc of iron ore, and a combined $25 billion war chest to fast-track projects,” he said.

“Globally, we are number one and number two as the most attractive mining investment jurisdictions in the world.”

Mr Carney also highlighted defence capabilities, artificial intelligence, and capital as other areas where both nations could work together in their best interest.

“Canada and Australia are getting big things done together. We know that middle powers must work together to build up our sovereignty in these key strategic sectors,” he said.

MIDDLE EAST

At a joint press conference after the address, both leaders were asked about Canada and Australia’s swift backing of strikes in Iran despite questions over the legality of it.

Both called for a de-escalation but both insisted the Iran’s nuclear build up and export of terror through proxy groups were real issues.

“The world wants to see a de-escalation, and wants to see Iran cease to spread the destinations of its attacks,” Mr Albanese said

“I also want to see a removal of the ongoing threat.”

Mr Carney echoed his desire for a de-escalation as the conflict has grown to more than 10 nations but also wouldn’t rule out possible Canadian involvement.

“While we want to see a broader de-escalation of these hostilities with a broader group of countries than just the direct belligerence involved, we recognise, we stress that that cannot be achieved unless we’re in a position that Iran’s ability to … develop a nuclear weapon and to export terrorism is ended,” he said.

“That process must lead to those outcomes.”

“One can never categorically rule out participation. We will stand by our allies. But it makes sense there’s a distinction between the offensive actions that were taken and are being taken by the United States and Israel, that were taken by them without consultation with Canada, with other with other allies.

“We will always defend Canadians. We will always stand by and defend our allies when called upon.”

Among those in the gallery watching Mr Carney’s address was former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett, Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable and Business Council of Australia boss Bran Black.

Mr Turnbull had also attended Mr Carney’s Lowy Institute in Sydney on Wednesday night, which had also focused on shifts in the global order and the opportunities they present for middle powers.

During his appearance he spoke about the inspiration he had from Mr Turnbull after having an extensive career in the private sector before his political career.

Mr Carney has previous served as Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008–2013 and Governor of the Bank of England — UK’s central bank — from 2013–2020.

During a live question and answers session at the end of his address, Mr Carney gave insight into dealing with top world leaders including Mr Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He suggested Mr Trump less confrontational behind closed doors and took personal interested people, while Xi was frank and concerned about saving face, urging him on their first meeting to raise any issues with him personally, rather than publicly.

Mr Carney also gave a personal shout out to Australian firefighters who travel to Northern America in a long-running exchange which helps each country during their fire seasons.

The foreign leader was welcomed to Parliament with an official gun salute before signing the official visitors’ book, which was watched by school children, staffers, politicians, and members of the media.

Both Mr Carney and Mr Albanese then shook hands and shared selfies with visiting students from St Pius X College in Sydney.