Minister Anand to travel to United Kingdom and France
News release
June 5, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be in London, United Kingdom, and Paris, France, from June 6 to 7, 2025, for bilateral visits.
In London, Minister Anand will meet with David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom. They will discuss ways to reinforce the close Canada-United Kingdom relationship, including by strengthening security and defence collaboration and expanding economic cooperation.
There, Minister Anand will also meet with Shirley Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to discuss strengthening the Commonwealth through strategic reforms and focusing on its key strengths, such as advancing democracy and human rights. Minister Anand will also attend a meeting of G7 heads of mission and a round-table discussion with business leaders on defence and economic growth.
Minister Anand will then travel to Paris, where she will meet with Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. They will discuss Canada and France’s continued collaboration on shared priorities, including defence and security, the promotion of democratic values, the two countries’ consecutive G7 presidencies and the promotion of the French language.
Throughout the trip, Minister Anand will reiterate Canada’s commitment to growing its already close ties with the United Kingdom and France as key transatlantic allies and reliable trading partners.
Quotes
“Canada has always had close partnerships with France and the United Kingdom, and in this time of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it is crucial that Canada further strengthens its relationships with reliable international partners. I look forward to meeting with my counterparts and other leaders during my trip to the United Kingdom and France to emphasize the importance of growing this cooperation for our countries’ economic and political security. We are always stronger when we work together.”
- Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
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Canada and the United Kingdom have a profound and wide-ranging relationship built on strong historic ties, shared values and a long tradition of strategic partnership. In recent years, the two countries have collaborated closely on security and defence, as well as through many multilateral organizations; they are the only two countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, NATO, the G7, the G20 and the Commonwealth.
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Canada and France maintain a rich and strong relationship rooted in a shared history and a common language. France—a permanent member of the UN Security Council, NATO, the G7 and the G20, as well as a founding member of the EU and a key partner in the International Organisation of the Francophonie—is one of Canada’s closest allies.
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Canada, the United Kingdom and France cooperate globally in support of multilateralism and the rules-based international order, international security, the protection of the environment and the fight against climate change, the promotion of democracy and good governance, human rights and gender equality.
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Canada is the second-largest contributor to the Commonwealth, which comprises 56 members, and has contributed approximately $14 million to the multilateral organization in 2024-2025.
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As part of Canada’s key Commonwealth commitments, Canada hosts the Commonwealth of Learning in Vancouver, British Columbia, the mission of which is to help member countries and institutions use open, distance and technology-enabled learning to expand access to education and training, especially for women and girls.
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