Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed Monday during the Yerevan summit in Armenia the need to confront a world heading toward isolation and brutality through broader partnerships. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Europe is required to strengthen its military capabilities and achieve greater security independence. For his part, the Ukrainian president called for increasing pressure on Moscow and pushing it toward diplomacy. As for Emmanuel Macron, he stressed that the Europeans are now required to take their defense destiny into their own hands.

Published on: 04/05/2026 - 18:49

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European and Canadian leaders discussed at the Yerevan summit in Armenia on Monday ways to enhance defense capabilities and reduce dependence on the United States, while calling for expanding partnerships and dealing with escalating international tensions, especially in light of the war in Ukraine and American pressure on allies.

The leaders stressed Europe's independence in the field of defense and strengthened relations with Canada, during a summit overshadowed by American threats to reduce military support for traditional allies.

It seems that the presence of US President Donald Trump was not absent from the meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), which witnessed for the first time the participation of a leader from outside the European bloc, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney addressed European leaders by saying, "We do not believe that we are doomed to submit to a more utilitarian, isolated, and brutal world, and meetings like this provide us with another path."

Read also: A meeting of European leaders in Armenia, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada, in light of a rift in transatlantic relations

The Armenia meeting came days after Washington announced the withdrawal of five thousand American soldiers from Germany, in a decision that came after its advisor Friedrich Merz criticized Washington's war approach.

In turn, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters, “We must strengthen our military capabilities to be able to defend ourselves,” adding that the European Union needs “a greater degree of independence” in security issues.

Like Europe, the Canadian economy has been damaged by the tariffs imposed by Trump.

In a speech earlier this year, Carney urged middle powers to come together in the face of a new global reality marked by major power competition and the “erosion” of the rules-based international order.

"Deepening shared resilience"

As part of its effort to diversify its partnerships away from its southern neighbour, Ottawa joined the European Defense Financing Mechanism, becoming the first non-European country to do so, and also worked to enhance trade cooperation.

“We are the most European among non-European countries, so there are many ways in which we can work together,” Carney told reporters from Yerevan.

Upon his arrival in the Armenian capital on Sunday, European Council President Antonio Costa wrote on social media, “Leaders from various parts of the continent, with the participation of Canada, will discuss ways of cooperation to enhance security and deepen common resilience,” after the war in Iran deepened the rift in transatlantic relations.

The "European Political Community" is a political forum held twice a year, and it was established at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

According to Sebastien Maillard, special advisor at the Jacques Delors Research Institute, “Initially, the European Political Community was seen as an anti-Russian President Vladimir Putin club.”

But "with the invitation extended to Canada, this initiative, which was originally based on geography, has now taken an anti-Trump turn," he added.

France 24/AFP

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