Mark Carney won't 'categorically rule out' Canada entering conflict with US, Israel against Iran

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he cannot “categorially rule out” military involvement in the war with Iran after the US and Israel launched an attack over the weekend. He emphasized that Canada may have to protect its citizens and allies if the fighting expands further.

“While we want to see a broader de-escalation of these hostilities,” Carney said to an audience in Australia, “we recognize and stress that that cannot be achieved unless we’re in a position where Iran’s ability to acquire a nuclear weapon … and to export terrorism is ended.”

Carney’s remarks largely mirrored those of Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, per the Toronto Star. He was asked by reporters about Canada’s role after Turkey shot down an incoming drone. Turkey is a member of NATO, and if any countries in the alliance are attacked, NATO agreements may pull the other countries into the conflict. Carney said Canadian involvement is hypothetical but declined to rule it out.

“One can never categorically rule out participation. We will stand by our allies when it makes sense,” Carney said, drawing a distinction between “offensive actions” by the United States and Israel that initiated the conflict and defensive responses to attacks.

"We will always defend Canadians. We will always stand by and defend our allies.”

Carney said his visit to Australia aimed to reinforce ties between the two nations, marking the first official trip by a Canadian prime minister since Stephen Harper visited in 2007.

“We may look to different skies — the North Star in our hemisphere, the Southern Cross in yours — but we have the same orientation. We share a common heritage, have developed a common perspective, and can build a common future.”

Throughout the trip, Carney and Albanese highlighted their shared view that mid-sized nations such as Canada and Australia should cooperate more closely to limit their dependence on global powers like the United States and China. Carney pointed to the tariff policies of President Donald Trump, and claimed that they were being used to “dictate” other countries’ economic policies.

The US and Israel have conducted a massive operation to curb the power of the Iranian regime after the IRGC and other Iranian government officials have participated in mass slaughter against their citizens. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the US and Israel will have total and uncontested control over Iran’s skies in the coming days. So far, there have been 6 American soldiers who have died in the conflict.