Canada’s Carney says military role in Iran war cannot be ruled out
CANBERRA, March 5 — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday he could not rule out the possibility of Canada’s military participating in the escalating conflict involving Iran, while emphasising that such a scenario remained hypothetical and reiterating Ottawa’s support for its allies.
Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a joint press conference in Canberra, Carney said Canada would stand by its partners as tensions in the Middle East deepen following a large-scale military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran.“One can never categorically rule out participation,” Carney said when asked whether Canada could become directly involved in the conflict. He described the question as hypothetical but stressed that Canada remained committed to supporting its allies and protecting its national interests.“We will stand by our allies,” he said. “We will always defend Canadians.”Conflict dominates diplomatic visitCarney’s visit to Australia has been overshadowed by the widening war in the Middle East following the U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, according to statements referenced during the visit.The Canadian leader said the strikes were “inconsistent with international law,” while also reiterating Canada’s long-standing position that Iran should not obtain a nuclear weapon.Carney said Canada supported efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, though he described the situation as “another example of the failure of the international order.”Despite the rising tensions, the prime minister called for restraint and urged steps to reduce the risk of further escalation.Carney reiterated his call for “de-escalation” of the conflict, highlighting concerns that the confrontation could destabilise the broader Middle East and strain the international security system.Middle powers urged to cooperateDuring a speech to Australia’s parliament, Carney urged countries he described as “middle powers” to work more closely together in an international environment increasingly shaped by major geopolitical competition.He said nations such as Canada and Australia faced a choice between cooperating to help shape the evolving global order or allowing larger powers to set the rules.“In this brave new world, middle powers cannot simply build higher walls and retreat behind them. We must work together,” Carney told lawmakers.He said countries with similar political and economic values could help influence international governance through cooperation and coordinated policies.“Great powers can compel, but compulsion comes with costs, both reputational and financial,” he said, adding that countries such as Canada and Australia possessed the ability to convene partners because they were seen as reliable actors in international affairs.Carney said these countries could strengthen their influence by aligning their policies with their stated values and working collectively in multilateral forums.
Expanding economic and strategic cooperationCarney also highlighted plans for deeper cooperation between Canada and Australia across a range of sectors including defence, artificial intelligence and natural resources.He said the two countries intended to work together as “strategic collaborators” and pointed to the potential of combining their rare earth mineral resources, which are widely used in advanced technologies and clean energy systems.“We know we must work with others who share our values to build solid capabilities,” he told parliament, warning that countries risked being “caught between the hyperscalers and the hegemons” if they failed to strengthen partnerships.Carney’s visit forms part of a broader tour of the Asia-Pacific region aimed at expanding economic partnerships and reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States.
The trip comes amid strained relations between Ottawa and Washington. Carney has previously clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened tariffs on Canadian goods and has at times suggested the possibility of annexing Canada.Earlier this year, speaking at the World Economic Forum in January, Carney warned that the U.S.-led global system of governance was undergoing what he described as “a rupture,” reflecting broader shifts in the balance of geopolitical power.
