Strasbourg, France - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to eviscerate the Trump administration and declare a "new alliance" with the European Union.
Carney completely ignored President Donald Trump's threats as he gave his speech to the EU Parliament on Thursday, pitching a "new alliance" with Europe that can serve as a bulwark against outside pressures and emerging global threats.
"Europe and Canada are stronger together," Carney said in a speech that drew a standing ovation, saying his country welcomed the EU proposal and wanted deeper cooperation on issues from artificial intelligence to defence and energy.
The Canadian leader pushed back afterward at Trump's threat to cut trade ties with the EU should the plan go ahead – telling reporters: "No one is going to dictate our culture, or with whom we can strike agreements internationally."
His speech came a day after he became the first international leader to attend the annual "State of the European Union" address, which was delivered by EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.
During her address, von der Leyen declared: "I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU."
"We do not seek power to dominate others," Carney said on Thursday, suggesting the alliance could "create a beacon for other democracies."
"We are pursuing resilience so no one, no one can control our open markets, impair our sovereignty, threaten our territorial integrity, or undermine our freedoms, our democracies, our rule of law," he said.