Prime Minister Mark Carney met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss the ongoing military operations in the Middle East and the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Both leaders condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure, expressing deep concern over the impact on civilians and the potential for escalation.
The global economic consequences of the conflict, such as rising energy prices, were also a major concern during the meeting. Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about the importance of reopening the strait to resolve disruptions to global shipping and the oil crisis. Trump had urged the U.K. and other nations to send warships to help secure the crucial oil shipping channel from Iranian attacks.
Canada clarified that it is not part of the U.S.-Israeli-led war but did not rule out defensive measures in the region. The new Canadian high commissioner in London, former cabinet minister Bill Blair, emphasized the importance of discussions between the two prime ministers on handling the conflict and its economic aftermath.
During a photo op, Starmer highlighted the shared values between Canada and the U.K. in navigating a “volatile world” and thanked Carney for the continued support to Ukraine. Carney emphasized the deepened bilateral ties between Canada and the U.K. on security, intelligence sharing, and trade, which was agreed upon a year ago.
Carney also had an audience with King Charles later in the day.