Canada’s PM in Japan to talk defence, minerals, cyber

2026-03-06 - 10:03

Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney said US-Israeli strikes on Iran appeared ‘inconsistent with international law’ but supported efforts to stop Tehran getting nuclear weapons. (AFP pic) TOKYO: Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney arrived in Japan today for talks with counterpart Sanae Takaichi likely focused on deepening security and economic ties as well as the Iran war. Japanese media reported both sides want to share more intelligence on Chinese and Russian cyberattacks, boost joint military exercises, and cooperate on securing critical minerals. Carney arrived from Australia, where he said US-Israeli strikes on Iran appeared “inconsistent with international law” but supported efforts to stop Tehran getting nuclear weapons. Fresh from saying in Davos in January that under US president Donald Trump the world was seeing a “rupture”, Carney also called in Canberra for “middle powers” to work more together. As a strong backer for the rules-based international order, the Iran war has put Japan – another similarly sized power – in a difficult position. Japan is a close US ally that is home to some 60,000 US military personnel and which relies on US backing as China flexes its muscles in the region. The world’s fourth-largest economy is also its fifth biggest oil importer, with some 70% shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed. Takaichi said Tuesday that she would hold “candid” discussions on the war with Trump at their talks in Washington on March 19. Japan-China ties have worsened since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan. Chinese tourist numbers have plummeted, and although some trade restrictions have been placed on “dual use” goods, Beijing has – for now – not implemented measures that could really hurt Japan. China-Canada relations have, meanwhile, thawed, with Carney visiting in January and signing a trade deal after years of tit-for-tat arrests and tariff disputes. His current tour, which also included India, is part of efforts to pivot Canada away from excessive reliance on its southern neighbour under Trump. “Japan is a natural partner for Carney’s desire to ‘be on the table, not on the menu’,” said Yee Kuang Heng, a professor specialising in international security at the University of Tokyo. Up for discussion could be coordinating naval transits through the Taiwan Strait, as well as better tracking and intercepting of Russian-Chinese bomber patrols in the western and northern Pacific, Heng told AFP. Canada may also potentially be interested in buying future fighter jets made under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) between Japan, Italy and Britain. Carney was due to return to Canada on Saturday.