The Digester

Mark Carney urges Canada and Australia to unite as 'strategic cousins'

Mar 5th 2026

Speaking in Canberra, Mark Carney said closer Canada-Australia cooperation on minerals, defence, trade and AI will strengthen both nations against superpowers and announced Australia will join the G7 critical minerals alliance.

  • Carney called for Canada and Australia to act as strategic collaborators rather than competitors when dealing with dominant superpowers.
  • Australia will join the G7 critical minerals alliance as Carney pushed cooperation on critical minerals, trade and supply chain resilience.
  • Together Canada and Australia account for major shares of global lithium, uranium and iron ore production.
  • Carney endorsed the Five Eyes intelligence partnership as a functioning pillar of security cooperation.
  • He questioned the legality of recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran and called for de-escalation and adherence to international law.
  • Carney promoted middle-power diplomacy, urging joint investment in defence capabilities and sovereign AI, including a Canada-Australia-India AI initiative.