Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to work together in the areas of space infrastructure, business and economic growth when the leaders met on Sunday in the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Speaking to reporters, Carney said he and Macron will task their space agencies and defense ministries to develop and share common infrastructure, including space launch systems and ground reception facilities. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said the countries plan to work together on infrastructure that can receive data from satellites. Carney said he and Macron will also task the joint regional cooperation commission between Atlantic Canada and Saint Pierre and Miquelon to expand its work on economic growth, energy transition and climate resilience. The countries’ chambers of commerce are also joining forces to bring their business communities together. The French and Canadian chambers of commerce are expected to sign an agreement in the coming weeks. The couple shook hands and hugged as Carney stepped off the plane, with several airport workers crowded nearby to take photos and videos of the leaders. The leaders parked at a working lunch before attending a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument to Free French volunteers. In December 1941, Free French forces peacefully liberated the archipelago from the control of the Vichy regime, which aided Nazi Germany. during World War II. Wendy Sandeman, who was at the ceremony, held a sign welcoming Carney. Originally from Newfoundland, Sandeman said she moved to the island almost 40 years ago to be with her partner. Sandeman said it was great for both countries that the leaders were in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. “I wanted to show my support for Mr. Carney with the issues Canadians are having against Americans right now,” she said, a tear running down her face. Sabrina Chatel, a professor of geopolitics at Saint-Pierre, said she spoke with her students about the leaders’ visit before Sunday. Get daily national news Get daily Canadian news delivered to your inbox so you never miss the day’s top stories. Chatel said the meeting was historic given what is happening in the world, adding that it can open doors for the future. Story continues below ad 6:59 Can the EU fill Canada’s economic void amid fractured trade relations with the United States? In his remarks on Sunday, Macron said he supported Canada’s future participation in the European Union. He said Carney’s visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon marked a step in their growing relationship. Macron also announced the creation of a new Canada-France Polar Research Forum, adding that the first meeting would take place in Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Macron was scheduled to be on the islands, which are about 20 kilometers off the southern coast of Newfoundland, for three days this weekend, before traveling to New York City for the U.N. General Assembly. New York opted on Monday to join Macron in what both countries said was a visit to demonstrate unity and respect. Macron’s office said Carney is the first Canadian prime minister to make an official visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Macron is the first French president to visit the country in more than a decade. “In a world characterized by a return to power politics, geopolitical tensions and new dependencies, France and Canada share a common ambition: to work together – and with all countries that share these values - to strengthen their ability to make decisions and act independently,” a spokesperson for Macron’s office said in an email. Alain Di Crescenzo, president and CEO of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a statement that strengthening ties with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce marks a “concrete step in our commitment.” to turn a historic relationship into real business opportunities.” More about Canada More videos “Our two economies offer genuine complementarities and, by leveraging them, we can develop shared value chains in strategic sectors for companies in both countries,” said Di Crescenzo. “The trust that already unites our two countries is an advantage that few trade associations in the world can claim: a strength that we can take advantage of without preventing us from exploring other markets at the same time.” President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Candace Laing, said in a statement that the organization has already begun to deepen its ties with the French business community, including leading a trade mission of Canadian business leaders to Paris last June. “We have many more engagements planned,” he said. 6:30 ‘The world looks at Canada differently’: Carney ahead of the United Nations General Assembly The meeting between Carney and Macron comes amid rising tensions with the United States for both Canada and Europe, and as Canada and the European Union work toward a new and deeper alliance. broad. On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union. In her state of the union address to the European Parliament, she said the two sides must “urgently reimagine” their partnership and go beyond a free trade agreement to take the relationship to the “highest possible level.” of von der Leyen for Canada. Partnership. Carney said that while the name and nature of the new agreement have not yet been determined, the partnership will be debated and voted on in Parliament. He said he is interested in expanding a number of links, including opportunities for young people and an integrated market for financial services. Canada and Europe already have a free trade agreement, although it has not been ratified by all EU members, and last year Canada became the only non-European member of the new defense procurement program. EU Carney signaled his desire to move closer to Europe immediately after becoming prime minister in March 2025, when he traveled to meet Macron in Paris and King Charles in London, within days of being named prime minister. On Sunday, he said the partnership between Canada and France is at the heart of their growing relationship with Europe.