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Middle powers must shape new global rules, Carney tells Australian parliament
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on Australia to collaborate as "strategic cousins" in rewriting international security and economic frameworks, warning that the post-war global order is collapsing under successive crises.
Call to counter hegemonic influence
Addressing Australia's parliament-the first Canadian leader to do so in nearly two decades-Carney framed the choice for middle powers as either crafting new rules or allowing dominant nations to dictate outcomes. His remarks echoed a January speech in Davos, where he declared the "old order" irrecoverable and urged nations to strengthen sovereign capabilities.
"The impulse toward autonomy is understandable when existing rules no longer offer protection," Carney said on Thursday, citing rising global instability as a catalyst for change.
Expanded cooperation in critical sectors
Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced joint initiatives to bolster ties in defense, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. Australia will join the G7 Critical Minerals Alliance, which Carney described as the "largest coalition of trusted democratic mineral reserves."
The two nations collectively produce one-third of the world's uranium and lithium, alongside over 40% of its iron ore. Albanese emphasized their shared values, stating, "Australia and Canada must forge new ways to stand together."
Middle East tensions and nuclear concerns
Both leaders, who support recent strikes against Iran, called for regional de-escalation while insisting a ceasefire must wait until Tehran loses its nuclear weapons capability. Albanese condemned Iran's destabilizing actions, linking them to antisemitic attacks in Australia last year.
"We're seeing Gulf states under attack, including civilian and tourist areas. The world demands Iran halt its aggression," Albanese said.
Diplomatic breakthroughs beyond Canberra
Before arriving in Australia, Carney secured multi-billion-dollar agreements in India, marking a thaw in relations strained by Canada's 2023 accusation that Delhi was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist. His itinerary continues to Japan, where he will meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
