Carney announces agreement with France to share sensitive defence, AI information

Carney announces agreement with France to share sensitive defence, AI information

Deal also helps sharing of data from aerospace sector

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada and France will deepen their defence and industrial co-operation through a new general security of information agreement.

Carney says the agreement will facilitate the exchange of classified intelligence related to the defence, space, artificial intelligence and aerospace sectors.

Carney made the comments in a joint statement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais de l'Élysée in Paris on Friday.

Carney heads to Europe for G7 summit as U.S. and Israel-Iran war escalates

Macron said he and Carney will discuss trade, defence and security in their closed-door meeting, and he hailed Canada as a friend to Europe and France.

The meeting, which comes ahead of next week's G7 summit, could be one of the last between the two world leaders, since Macron's second term in office is set to end next spring.

France, which is hosting the summit this year, says the priorities include settling major geopolitical crises, G7 support for Ukraine and protecting children online.

Catherine Morrison is a reporter for The Canadian Press.