Carney highlighted “the possibility of a more lasting end to hostilities,” and considered France’s decision to include leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE in an expanded G7 summit as “timely.”
However, Carney stressed that any credible agreement must involve “a broader cessation of hostilities, including in Lebanon.”
Martin, whose government has been vocally critical of Israel following its decision to close its Irish embassy in protest, agreed, affirming the importance of Lebanon’s inclusion in the peace process, stating that “Lebanese sovereignty is absolutely essential.”
Lebanon holds special significance for Ireland, a country outside NATO, due to its contribution of troops to the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, with Ireland losing 48 soldiers there since 1978.
Carney’s visit to Ireland aims partly to advance his agenda of strengthening Canadian ties with Europe as a counterbalance to the tensions with the U.S. during the Trump era. Ireland is poised to become a noteworthy ally as it assumes the EU Council’s rotating presidency on July 1, hosting numerous EU events over the next six months.
Additionally, Carney’s visit to Ireland appears to be an effort to bolster his political image. A policy expert and former central banker, he has been a lawmaker for just a year. His family history will be highlighted on Sunday when he visits his ancestral home in a County Mayo village, from where his paternal grandparents emigrated to Canada in 1925.
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