Prime Minister Mark Carney has been actively engaging in international travel since taking office, making several trips abroad in a short period. His first official visits included France and the United Kingdom, and he has since traveled across the Atlantic at least three more times. During these visits, Carney has announced various agreements, which he claims signify new partnerships for Canada.

One of the latest agreements is the Mexico-Canada Action Plan, described by Carney as a “new partnership” between the two nations. This plan was introduced amid ongoing tariff issues with the United States, which has targeted both countries for allegedly facilitating illicit fentanyl smuggling. However, critics point out that the action plan lacks concrete commitments. It includes vague phrases like “deepen cooperation” and “advance initiatives” but does not establish any specific benchmarks or obligations.

In the section on bilateral security cooperation, the plan does not promise to increase the number of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers in Mexico. Instead, it outlines intentions to monitor drug trends and improve public health responses without any binding commitments.

Another agreement, the Canada-Germany Joint Declaration of Intent, was signed during Carney's visit to Berlin. This document emphasizes the importance of critical minerals for economic and national security but also lacks specific actions. While it mentions encouraging joint research and development, it does not detail how these initiatives will be implemented. Notably, it does propose the formation of a task force to oversee cooperation in critical minerals.

The EU-Canada Strategic Defence Partnership, signed in June, has also been criticized for its lack of concrete military commitments. Unlike the AUKUS pact, which involves specific military goals among the U.S., U.K., and Australia, the EU-Canada partnership primarily reiterates existing cooperation without pledging to deploy troops or purchase military equipment. It includes clauses about exchanging information on peacekeeping operations and regular dialogues on counterterrorism but lacks actionable commitments.

Similarly, the Canada-Poland Strategic Partnership, announced three months after the EU agreement, is more of a joint statement than a formal declaration. It outlines potential areas of collaboration, such as defense and border security, but again, it does not provide specific commitments. The partnership calls for a High-Level Steering Group to oversee its implementation, but the details remain vague.

Overall, while Carney's international engagements are framed as significant diplomatic efforts, many of the agreements lack substance and actionable commitments, raising questions about their effectiveness.