On the occasion of the eighth summit of the European Political Community, Europeans, whether or not they are members of the EU or NATO, are meeting in Yerevan, Armenia. A valuable ally in the face of global disorder fueled by Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is the guest of this summit which must address both support for Ukraine and the fight against drug trafficking.
Published on: 04/05/2026 - 03:53 Modified on: 04/05/2026 - 15:06
To display this YouTube content, it is necessary to authorize audience measurement and advertising cookies.
An extension in your browser appears to be blocking the loading of the video player. To be able to watch this content, you must disable or uninstall it.
Europe and Canada displayed a united front on Monday May 4 during a diplomatic high mass in Armenia, determined to stand together in a world subjected to the tremors of Donald Trump.
“We do not believe we are condemned to submit to a more transactional, insular and brutal world,” said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, opening a summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Yerevan.
This is the first time that a non-European leader has been invited to this informal forum which brings together twice a year almost all European countries, excluding Russia and Belarus.
“Meetings like this open up another path for us,” assured the head of the Canadian government, who in recent months has championed an alliance between “middle powers”, facing “hegemonic powers” like the United States or China.
Support that comes at the right time for Europeans still stunned by Donald Trump's decision, a few days ago, to withdraw 5,000 American soldiers stationed in Germany. The tempestuous American president also threatened the European Union with new customs surcharges.
“Today we are paying the price for our excessive dependence on the protection offered by the United States in terms of defense and security,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
And added, referring to the Canadian Prime Minister: "If Mark is also present, it is because he feels closer and closer to the Europeans, because we are all together, and we believe that we need to be."
The Europeans have also committed to further strengthening their own defense capabilities.
The withdrawal of American soldiers from Germany “shows that we really need to strengthen the European pillar of NATO, and we really need to do more,” said the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas.
Do not “relax sanctions on Russia”
Support for Ukraine is another major topic of discussion in Yerevan, while the Europeans have taken over from the Americans in financing kyiv's war effort, with a loan of 90 billion euros validated last month by the EU.
“Resist the idea of relaxing sanctions on Russia,” pleaded Volodymyr Zelensky, stressing that it was necessary to “push” Vladimir Putin to accept a diplomatic solution.
The presence of the Ukrainian president at this summit in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus, which remained Moscow's ally after the fall of the USSR, is a strong symbol.
Among the few absent from this meeting of the extended European family, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was delayed by a technical problem during his trip, but eventually arrived in Armenia.
Coincidentally, these discussions are being held in this neighboring country of Iran, echoing the serious concerns of Europeans, who are suffering strong repercussions from the conflict in the Middle East, particularly on the energy level.
Crucial elections
The CPE meeting will be followed on Tuesday by the first EU-Armenia summit, in a smaller group, while President Macron, who received a very warm welcome in Yerevan, will begin a state visit on Monday evening.
So many opportunities for Europeans to express their support for Armenia, a month before legislative elections crucial for its future.
This former Soviet republic is seeking, under the leadership of its Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinian, to develop its ties with the EU.
Also read “They are stealing the elections”: in Armenia, a new Russia-EU duel
Last year, the country passed a law officially declaring its intention to apply for membership in the EU, continuing a partnership established in 2017.
The candidacy has not yet been formally submitted, but like in a game of chess – a national sport in Armenia – each side advances its pawns: Vladimir Putin warned Nikol Pashinian in early April that his country's accession to the EU would be "simply impossible" given the current links between the Armenian and Russian economies.
With AFP
Keywords associated with the article
The content you are trying to access does not exist or is no longer available.
