Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting organized by France and Saudi Arabia in support of a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel as world leaders arrive for the 80th session of the UN’s General Assembly (UNGA) on September 22, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
News Analysis
Prime Minister Mark Carney was at the United Nations General Assembly this week where numerous developments were occurring in foreign policy amid notable global changes and conflicts.
It was Carney’s first participation at the event in New York City as head of government, having previously served with the U.N. in a climate finance role.
It was also U.S. President Donald Trump’s first participation at the general assembly during his second term, and he threw down the gauntlet in a nearly hour-long speech before heads of states and delegates on Sept. 23.
Trump warned that countries with open border policies that pursue the “green energy” transition are “going to hell.”
“You need strong borders and traditional energy sources if you are going to be great again,” he said.
Trump also criticized the United Nations’ effectiveness in stopping wars, saying he has personally managed to halt seven conflicts.
The shots Trump took at multilateralism and progressive policies illustrated the gap existing between Washington and Ottawa on a host of issues. This is on top of the trade dispute as Trump continues to levy tariffs against Canada.
“We would like the old system back,” Carney said during a talk hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations think tank on Sept. 22. “We prospered out of the old system and we were able to pursue a values-based foreign policy, based on, or anchored on, a rules-based multilateral trading system, an open global financial system.”
The prime minister added that the new system ushered in by Trump is more “transactional” and centred on bilateral trade and investments. This is in reference to several deals Trump struck with major economies such as Japan and South Korea, which included commitments to invest hundreds of billions in the United States in exchange for a lower tariff rate.
Carney the Diplomat
Even though Carney has called the changes to the international trading system a “rupture,” he did not vigorously push back on Trump’s U.N. speech running counter to many of his own stances.
“I heard every word from the president and I took a few notes,” Carney said at a press conference at the end of the day on Sept. 23.
He said the first important point he noted was on the efficiency of the United Nations, adding that it must be reinforced to be more relevant in efforts to resolve armed conflicts.
Carney agreed Trump was able to stop seven wars, including the long-standing dispute between Armenian and Azerbaijan.
“He’s right … when he said he solved these conflicts by himself” without assets from the United Nations, Carney said.
Carney also suggested that Trump echoed “in his own words” some fundamental U.N. principles toward the end of his speech. Trump mentioned the need to defend free speech, protect religious liberty, and safeguard countries’ sovereignty. Carney said this leaves an opening for greater U.N. involvement in “certain circumstances” to achieve peace.
The prime minister also did not put himself at odds with Trump on the issue of green energy policies.
Carney has been a strong advocate of net-zero emissions policies while also demonstrating some pragmatism since becoming prime minister.
“I saw a great opportunity for Canada,” he said, noting that Canada is an energy “superpower” that will have a competitive trade advantage due to a lower carbon footprint. “We can offer solutions, and if currently that’s not in the interest of Americans, we are lucky,” he said.
Trump, in his speech, called green policies a “scam” and the carbon footprint a “hoax.”
“The primary effect of these brutal green energy policies has not been to help the environment, but to redistribute manufacturing and industrial activity from developed countries that follow the insane rules that are put down to polluting countries that break the rules and are making a fortune,” he said in an apparent reference to China.
Key Move
While Carney did not rise in opposition to Trump during his time in the president’s former hometown of New York City, he did take a stance that represents a clean break with U.S. foreign policy and with Canada’s long-standing position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
It didn’t come as a shock when Carney announced on Sept. 21 that Canada is recognizing Palestinian statehood, given that he had made his intention known in late July.
It is not yet clear what the ramifications will be for Canada for siding against the United States and Israel. Trump had previously sent mixed signals about the issue, saying it would be harder for Canada to reach a trade deal, while not being a “deal breaker.”
Meanwhile two dozen Republican lawmakers warned Carney in a letter last week that the move could lead to “punitive measures.” They called the policy “reckless” and said it will lead to an increase of already elevated incidents of anti-Semitism.
Canada remains without a specific trade deal to address Trump’s sectoral tariffs on metals and cars, which are having the biggest impact on the Canadian economy. Carney said negotiations are ongoing but there doesn’t appear to be any momentum to resolve the issue.
“Let’s be absolutely clear: We have the best trade deal of any country in the world right now with the United States,” Carney said when asked by reporters if recognizing Palestine could alienate the United States and impact Canada’s ability to reach a deal.
Carney went on to say that recognizing Palestine is a matter of principle and that Canada has an independent foreign policy. “We make decisions that are consistent with our values,” he said.
Palestinian territories are split in two, with the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization ruling the West Bank, and Hamas ruling the Gaza Strip. Carney said the recognition is necessary because of diminishing peace prospects with the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023; the encroachment of Jewish settlements in the West Bank; and Israel’s “contribution to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.”
Along with Canada, the UK, Australia, and Portugal also recognized Palestinian statehood on Sept. 21, followed by France on Sept. 22.
Trump said in his speech before the United Nations assembly that recognizing Palestine would be a reward “too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities” and that the unilateral move will prolong the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will never be a Palestinian state and that Jewish settlements will continue to be established.
Carney said on Sept. 23 that Canada would consider sending personnel to the Gaza Strip as part of a multi-lateral effort as a “stabilization force” if Hamas is defeated.
Likes China on Climate
One area of foreign policy continuity with the previous Liberal government is the approach of using climate change as a way to find common ground with China and engage that country.
Carney had dealings with China prior to his political career, while he was chair of Brookfield Asset Management (BAM). The investment firm secured a US$276 million loan from the state-owned Bank of China in late 2024. He also visited the mayor of Beijing in October 2024, after which the city’s government said Brookfield wanted to expand its business in Beijing and seek partners in green finance.
“In my experience with China, they are, amongst other things, very sincere and engaged on climate,” Carney said before the Council on Foreign Relations when asked to assess the effectiveness of Canada and the United States working to influence China’s behaviour and how to do things differently.
He added that Canada has to be clearer on the areas in which it engages, noting sectors like commodities, aspects of energy, and basic manufacturing while leaving aside sectors that “bridge into national privacy.
Ottawa has been pushing to increase engagement with Beijing amid a trade conflict. Canada targeted Chinese metals and electric vehicles with tariffs, and China responded by imposing duties on canola and seafood.
Liberal MP Kody Blois, Carney’s parliamentary secretary, travelled to China earlier this month with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Blois said cabinet ministers can be expected to travel to China as well.
Meanwhile, Carney met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23. A readout from the Prime Minister’s Office said the two discussed the trade conflict and committed to further high-level meetings.
According to an account of the meeting reported by Chinese state media Xinhua, Li said China is willing to move the relationship forward by expanding cooperation in “energy, green development, tourism, and other fields.”
Li also reportedly said Canada should “adopt a correct perception of China.”
Carney has previously identified China as the top security threat to the country, and Canadian security bodies consider it the foremost perpetrator of foreign interference.
Ukraine
Canada has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine as it pushes back against Russia’s invasion. Ottawa has sought to play a leading role in the efforts in some instances, such as in coordinating sanctions. Chrystia Freeland, who resigned from cabinet in mid-September, led the charge when she was deputy prime minister and minister of finance under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Amid a recent push for peace, however, Canada was left out of a key meeting at the White House in mid-August. Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and multiple European leaders, including those of Finland, Italy, the U.K., Germany, France, NATO, and the European Union.
This meeting took place three days after Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Shortly after, Carney made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Aug. 24, as the sole foreign leader to attend the country’s Independence Day celebrations.
Carney said during his time in New York City that Canada is the largest contributor of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine on a per capita basis. On Sept. 23 he co-chaired a meeting with Zelenskyy at the United Nations to advocate for the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russia.
Resolution of this conflict has remained elusive despite Trump’s attempts using various strategies, including to play nice with Putin.
In a notable shift, Trump said on social media on Sept. 23, after meeting with Zelenskyy, that he believes Ukraine, with support from the European Union, can push back Russian forces and regain its occupied territory. “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option,” he wrote.
The Trump administration had previously said Ukraine would have to make territorial concessions to end the conflict.
Commenting on Trump’s latest stance, Carney said the president made “very sincere and multiple efforts to try to establish peace” using his relationship with Putin. “Putin has failed every occasion, every opportunity.”
Carney said discussions are underway with G7 finance ministers to impose secondary sanctions on Russia. “We have been rightly aggressive in terms of our financial sanctions. We are ready to do more,” said Carney.