Lyse Doucet: Symbols and Matter in the first foreign visits of Canadian leader

Two European politicians, who were wearing a red and white color in red and white, sent a message to Canada on social media last week, stating that “We Got Your Back”.

In addition, signaling support was King Charles, who planted a red maple tree in the grounds of Buckingham Palace and wore his Canadian medal during a high profile trip for a naval warship.

When the new Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney goes on his first foreign trip to Paris and London on Monday – a day after his 60th birthday – he is expecting more than symbolic incentives. He wants concrete support from colleagues.

Not only is Canada being targeted, like Europe, swinging the American tariff, but Donald Trump is making it clear that he wants to handle his northern neighbor.

A Canadian officer told me in a voice, “We all appreciate symbolic gestures, but we need more public support,” I was told in a voice that outlined the nervous mistrust shared by most Canadians – not a mockery of Trump when he calls Canada a “51st state”.

The official message from Ottawa about Carney’s visit, which begins on Monday, underlines their priorities – finance and strong security – a natural fit for an economist leading the central bank in Canada and Britain. A statement by his office states that his visit means “to strengthen our two close and longest economic and safety participation”.

His journey program is also filled with great symbolism.

Carney revealed this as Prime Minister during his first speech on Friday when he heard back with a bright polish for the origin of this former colony. He said that “surprise of a country built on the basis of three people: Swadeshi, French and British”.

So this is a third destination on this whistle-stop tour-iced, the capital of the northern region of Nanavut in Canada and the motherland of its Inute people. The stop, the statement, insisted, to confirm “Canada’s Arctic Protection and Sovereignty”.

The luxurious Arctic and Northern areas make 40% of the land mass of the second largest country in the world. Protecting an important Canadian anxiety amidst intensifying rivalry between world powers in the Arctic region, drawn into America, Russia, China and more; This is the Cold War of all the Cold Wars.

And there is a personal twist. Carney was born in the small town of Fort Smith in the Northwest regions, which is located next to Nannavut.

His program underlines that he needs to do a quick study in a new skill – retail politics. A federal election, which is to be held by October, will be called very soon. Carney needs to prove that he does with voters, in English and French, naturally as he does with bankers and finance owners.

And he needs a proper political mandate. He obtained 86% of the vote when his liberal party chose to replace Justin Trudeau, Who stepped as Prime Minister Between the increasing calls to resign from their own party after a decade on top.

But Carney does not have a seat in Parliament; He still does not have the vote of Canadian people.

His Liberal Party has experienced just one dramatic upright, a “trump bump” as well as a Trudeau. The party that was sure to lose, and lost badly, is now bound by its main orthodox rivals in the elections.

Looking like a world leader, and understanding the world of tariffs and business, is a good look when you are running to the high office in the dark shade of external danger.

“I think part of the purpose of Mark Carney’s visit to Europe is to show that he can talk internationally with other similar -ideology powers at this very important moment,” reflects the famous Canadian historian Margaret McMillan.

Back home, voters will decide if he matters.

With French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Kir starrer, on Trump strategy, the Trump strategy is sure to talk. Both of them have taken great pain to the US President to flatter publicly, and pressed their case behind the closed doors.

Many people must be looking to see how Trump addresses Mark Carney – he recently referred to the former Canadian Prime Minister as “Governor Trudeau”.

Canada’s new top talks are talked about.

A week ago, when Carney won his party’s leadership competition, he called for Canadian National Sport, Ice Hockey, which has been in rivalry with American teams for a long time. “Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” Carney announced the applause.

“Don’t make any mistake, Canada will win.”

But everyone knows that this is not a game. Carney described this growing trade war as “the biggest crisis of our lifetime”. More than 80% of Canada exports cross the border for the US.

And when Canadian people reported some reports of the US flag, a recent survey by the Angus Reid Institute underlined that 91% of Canadians rejected the 51st state.

On Friday, in Ottawa’s icy cold weather, Carney hit a warm tone, stating how he and the trump business share a background in business, including real estate.

“The President is a successful businessman and dealener. We are his biggest customers in so many industries,” he commented. “Customers hope to respect in a proper commercial manner and work together.”

Carney says he looks “forward” to speak with President Trump. But the fact is that it will be a call, not a trip, a measure of this moment. Traditionally, the first foreign visit of a Canadian leader is for the US – its closest neighbor and most reliable companion.

On Monday, Carney is expected to sit with Canadian state head King Charles. The British Emperor has recently expressed his “deep affection” for Canada, and is said to have already written a private leader to the new Prime Minister.

In his non-political role, publicly love can be the limit of the power of the king. But even it sends a message to the US President.

Sir Keer has described Canada as “a colleague, and a very important colleague”. But last week, the head of Britain’s Liberal Democrates Ed Davi asked him to show more public support for Canada to oppose “shocking attacks” on his sovereignty.

This can be a week of that old saying in diplomacy and politics – “to do something and can be seen doing so”.