Tuesday June 24, 2025 | THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC] – Posted 11:55 pm PT [Updated 8:40 am PT on June 25, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the leaders of Nordic countries while in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Tuesday during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders Summit.
Who was there:
Carney met with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; the Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Frostadóttir,’ the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre; and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson. These meetings took place “on the margins” of the NATO Summit.
Critical minerals, energy and defence:
“As NATO Allies and close partners, the leaders emphasized regional security and the importance of investing in infrastructure and defence,” as stated by Carney’s office.
“They discussed opportunities to deepen economic and security ties in key sectors, including critical metals and minerals, energy, and defence procurement.”
Supporting Ukraine:
The leaders concurred on continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and agreed on “the imperative of achieving a just and lasting peace”.
he Ukraine-Russian war has continued for over three years; NATO support is considered necessary to protect western democracy. [See: UKRAINE News Section]
Readouts:
The June 24 meetings between Carney and the leaders of Sweden, the Netherlands (two reports) and Latvia were reported out by the Prime Minister’s Office.
SWEDEN:
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The prime ministers discussed deepening economic and security ties between their two countries. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening NATO and maritime defence across the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. They also discussed bolstering co-operation on defence procurement.
The leaders reiterated their steadfast support for Ukraine and agreed on the imperative of achieving a just and lasting peace.
THE NETHERLANDS:
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Prime Minister Carney thanked Prime Minister Schoof for hosting the NATO Summit at such a pivotal time for the Alliance and global security.
Prime Minister Carney underscored the importance of strengthening ties with the Netherlands, as Canada deepens its partnerships with the European Union. The leaders discussed opportunities to bolster economic co-operation across key sectors, including critical minerals and defence.
They affirmed their commitment to trans-Atlantic security and their support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East and stressed the importance of de-escalation.
THE NETHERLANDS:
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Prime Minister Carney thanked Prime Minister Schoof for hosting the NATO Summit at such a pivotal time for the Alliance and global security.
Prime Minister Carney underscored the importance of strengthening ties with the Netherlands, as Canada deepens its partnerships with the European Union. The leaders discussed opportunities to bolster economic co-operation across key sectors, including critical minerals and defence.
They affirmed their commitment to trans-Atlantic security and their support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East and stressed the importance of de-escalation.
DENMARK:
Bilateral relations
Denmark is a close, like-minded partner for Canada across a range of priority issues, including security and defence, trade and investment, climate change, cooperation in the Arctic, development and human rights. Canada shares a 3,000 km maritime border with the Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland) as well as rich historic and cultural links between the Inuit populations on both sides of the border.
Canada and Denmark have a Working Holiday agreement (International Experience Canada) that provides opportunities for Canadians and Danes to travel and gain work experience in each other’s countries.
Canada is represented in Denmark at the Embassy of Canada to Denmark, in Copenhagen, and by an Honorary Consul in Nuuk, Greenland. In Canada, Denmark maintains an Embassy in Ottawa, a Consulate General in Toronto, and honorary consulates in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, St. John’s, Vancouver, Iqaluit and Winnipeg.
Trade relations
Canada and Denmark are both open, sophisticated and competitive markets that enjoy a positive bilateral trade relationship. Our economies depend on innovation and knowledge-intensive sectors for growth and are underpinned by the strengths of our small-to-medium sized companies. Areas of opportunity for increased trade include energy security, life sciences, digitalization, clean-tech, and securing supply chain integrity.
Denmark is a strong supporter of free trade and a steady promoter of the Canada-Europe Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which it ratified in June 2017.
In 2024, the value of merchandise trade with Denmark was $2.7 billion; Canada exported $472.5 million worth of goods to Denmark and imported $2.2 billion worth of goods. Bilateral trade in services was valued at $1.1 billion in 2023: exports of $739 million and imports of $394 million.
Associated Links
LATVIA:
Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Building on the two countries’ already strong ties, the Prime Minister and the President discussed deepening the Canada-Latvia partnership, with a focus on increasing trade and investment, including in defence and energy.
They reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional security and underscored the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also discussed the need to increase pressure on Russia, including through sanctions.
Prime Minister Carney reiterated Canada’s support for Euro-Atlantic security, as demonstrated by its leadership through the Canada-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. He thanked the President for Latvia’s exemplary role in hosting Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members serving under Operation REASSURANCE. The operation includes approximately 2,000 personnel, making it the largest deployment of CAF members overseas.
The Prime Minister also outlined Canada’s plan to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the CAF – meeting the NATO 2 per cent target this year and accelerating defence investments in the years ahead.
===== RELATED:
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-USA | USA-GLOBAL | CANADA-NATIONAL
- Dynamics of dismissing Iran’s missiles on US military base as tit-for-tat (June 24, 2025)
- Canada fosters strengthened partnership with European Union (June 23, 2025)
- Trump announces U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites (June 21, 2025)