French President and Canadian Prime Minister Visit Saint Pierre and Miquelon to Strengthen National Sovereignty

Paris, Sept 20 (KUNA) -- The Élysée Palace announced on Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney intend to make a joint visit to the French archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic, which the palace described as a “symbolic visit.” The anticipated visit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media a map showing the entire North American continent covered by the American flag. The French and Canadian leaders plan to visit the French territory in the North Atlantic next week to reaffirm their support for national borders in the face of what the statement described as “Trump’s regional ambitions.”

The statement clarified that the image published by President Trump also included several French overseas territories, noting that Macron and Carney will affirm that their two countries share “the same values of freedom, democracy, and respect for state sovereignty.” It added that “in a world witnessing the return of power politics, geopolitical tensions, and new forms of dependency, France and Canada share a common ambition to work together and strengthen their capacity to make decisions and act independently.”

The visit is expected to be the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the archipelago. Saint Pierre and Miquelon is located about 20 kilometers from Canada’s Atlantic coast and has a population of around 6,000. The region experienced tensions with Washington during World War II, when France was under German occupation. François Hollande was the last French president to visit the islands in 2014. The archipelago, situated at a strategic location approximately 4,300 kilometers from the mainland, holds significant historical and geopolitical relevance. (End)