Carney and Macron deepen ties as Canada turns toward Europe and away from US dependence

SAINT-PIERRE, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron moved Sunday to deepen a strategic partnership spanning space, defense, energy and business, another step in Canada’s accelerating turn toward Europe as relations with the United States deteriorate.

They met in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, a French territory just off Newfoundland’s coast where France and Canada are separated by only a few kilometers — a striking setting for two countries trying to build closer economic and security ties across the Atlantic.

“Only a few kilometers separate Canada and France at their closest point. Our values are even closer,” Carney said in French while standing alongside Macron.

Carney said the countries will task their space agencies and defense ministries to develop and share infrastructure, including launch systems and ground-based reception facilities. They also agreed to expand cooperation in energy, telecommunications, climate resilience and economic development.

The meeting comes days after Carney embraced the prospect of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member and argued that deeper ties with Europe would make Canada less vulnerable to economic coercion by any single country.

Macron called Carney’s visit a “historic moment,” saying that amid global turmoil, the two countries were affirming “our sovereignty, our freedom to decide” and their determination to build closer ties.

Macron also backed Canada’s future involvement in the European Union.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, demands for economic concessions and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have pushed the Canadian government to reduce its dependence on its neighbor and pursue deeper economic, security and political relationships with Europe.

Macron welcomed Carney on Sunday at the airport of the French territory off Newfoundland’s coast.

“This is an important moment,” Macron said Saturday upon arrival in Saint-Pierre-et- Miquelon, home to about 5,800 people.

Talks “will allow us … to strengthen our bilateral economic ties and defense relationship,” Macron said.

Macron also said that Sunday’s talks are part of broader efforts to help France secure oil and gas supplies as the Iran war disrupts global energy markets and raises fears of higher prices for fuel and other essentials.

“Canada is a country with significant resources of critical minerals and rare earths. It is also a major oil and natural gas producer,” Macron said. “What we want to do is conclude agreements to secure more liquefied natural gas that can be shipped to Europe’s Atlantic coast.”

The leaders discussed aerospace, energy, critical minerals and advanced technologies such as quantum computing, satellites and supercomputing, Carney’s office said in a statement.

Sunday’s meeting also follows Trump’s announcement of a deal on Greenland that would expand the U.S. military presence there while keeping the island under Danish control. The agreement followed months of threats by Trump to seize the semiautonomous territory of a NATO ally.

Macron welcomed the agreement Saturday.

“Danish sovereignty is being respected, international law is being respected,” he said. “Anything that helps ease tensions is a good thing.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, looks to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embrace after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, leads Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to his plane after the leaders delivered remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, reacts to French President Emmanuel Macron as he delivers remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, takes a selfie with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering remarks in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sunday, Sept.20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to the hospital for tests after being struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

There was no decision yet on whether Bregman, who was going for X-rays and CT scans, would travel with the team back to Chicago following its 9-1 win.

“He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK.”

In the fourth inning, left-handed batting Michael Busch checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds right-hander Luis Mey that struck Bregman, who immediately jogged toward the Cubs' dugout with his hand covering the left side of his face.

Bregman was escorted by a trainer down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse, with blood visible on his face. Matt Shaw replaced Bregman and drew a walk. He remained in the game to play second base, with Pedro Ramirez shifting to third.

“It just happens so fast,” Busch said. “(Mey)'s throwing the ball hard and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it's always a scary thing. We try to focus on the game, but it's tough. Hopefully he's OK, first and foremost.”

Bregman went 1 for 1 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored before leaving the game. He is batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs after signing a $175 million, five-year free agent deal in January.

“I mean, at the end of the day, you just hope your friend is OK,” Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “That's the news that I'm hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity.”

The Cubs could clinch a postseason berth with a Diamondbacks loss to the Yankees later Sunday.

Counsell said he hasn't thought about how a potential long-term absence for Bregman might impact his postseason roster plans.

“You know, we've got to get good results from the hospital,” Counsell said. “He got hit in the face (so) you're worried just about his general well-being first. I want to get a good report first.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Chicago Cubs' Alex Bregman advances to third base on a double by Ian Happ during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

Chicago Cubs' Alex Bregman celebrates after a one-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)