Within hours of the initial launch of the ongoing U.S.- Israel joint military strikes on Iran, Carney — who, it’s worth noting, was wrapping up his second day on the ground in India —put out a joint statement with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on “Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East” that expressed support for the United State “acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” and called for “the protection of all civilians in this conflict.”

Speaking with reporters at a hotel in downtown Mumbai, Carney “said that his government does not expect to take part in the military operation that broke out on Saturday when the United States and Israel launched their assault,” the Toronto Star reports.

“Carney said Canadian officials had discussed the possibility of a new war breaking out in recent weeks, as the U.S. moved a naval arsenal into the Middle East and pressured Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program.”

Carney “also called for the protection of ‘all civilians’ but did not echo reactions from leaders in Europe who urged both sides to restrain themselves as Trump called for regime change amid a ‘major combat operation’ against Iran,” the Star notes.

“Leaders of several western countries condemned the Iranian regime on Saturday while offering less full-throated support for the U.S.-Israeli attack,” Canadian Press reported on Sunday.

“French President Emmanuel Macron called the situation ‘dangerous’ and warned of ‘grave consequences’ for global security.’ United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres went further, condemning the use of force as well as Iran’s retaliation. He warned that they “undermine international peace and security.’”

For her part, Anand — who, as flagged by iPolitics last week, was part of the travelling delegation for the India leg of the 9-day tour — confirmed that she “has spoken with (her) G7 counterparts regarding the evolving Iran-related hostilities in the Middle East,” as well as “the foreign ministers of several countries, including Israel, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Armenia and Azerbaijan, with additional calls occurring,” as per her X account.

Back in Canada, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was swift to put his party on the record in support of the strikes on Iran.

“Conservatives support the courageous people of Iran in toppling this terror regime and reclaiming their destiny after 47 years of the regime’s occupation,” he posted on X on Saturday morning.

“Conservatives support a democratic, free and permanently-denuclearized Iran that lives in peace and security with its neighbours. And Conservatives support the United States, Israel, and our allies across the Gulf to defend their sovereignty and dismantle the clerical military dictatorship of Iran.”

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet took a distinctly more cautious tone in his response.

“The Bloc Québécois recognizes the persistent threat posed by the Iranian regime to the security of the region and the freedom of Iranians, just as it recognizes Israel’s right to ensure the security of its people,” he notes in the X-generated translation of his statement, which was posted in French.

“However, the Bloc Québécois expresses definite concern regarding the resort to military force without the prior support of the U.S. Congress, the allies in Europe, Asia, and Canada. Such endorsement of the attacks thus appears premature: both Donald Trump and the Iranian regime show a lack of regard for civilian lives, international law must prevail, and negotiation as well as sanctions remain the preferred paths.”

Also weighing in via X: New Democrat leader Don Davies, who said that the attack “violates (United Nations) rules Canada has agreed to uphold,” and “contradicts numerous values (Carney) claimed he supported in Davos. Endorsing illegality, violence (and) destruction over dialogue and peaceful resolution is not what Canadians were promised, or support.”

In an op-ed for the Toronto Star, former Liberal foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy warns that Canada’s response to the attack on Iran “exposes a fault line at the heart of our foreign policy.”

“We invoke international law and the ‘rules based international order’ when adversaries engage in unlawful actions, but abandon those same rules entirely when it’s the Americans — whose current government 60 per cent of Canadians now see as a threat — doing the bombing,” he contends.

“For a country that depends on law more than force for its own security, that is not realism; it is recklessness. Ottawa’s statement on the attack is telling for what it says, and what it refuses to say.”

Carney’s position on the attack does, however, seem to be very much in line with that of Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, whose response was posted within hours of the joint statement from Carney and Anand, and deployed near-identical language: “We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.”

Carney is, of course, slated to meet with his Australian counterpart when he arrives in Canberra later this week to kick off a three-day visit that will include an address to Parliament — the first to be delivered by a Canadian prime minister in nearly twenty years, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation — and a visit to Sydney before it’s wheels up for Tokyo to begin the final leg of his trek.

Before boarding the flight to Australia, however, Carney was scheduled to make a high-stakes stop in New Delhi, where his itinerary includes a tête-à-tête with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, that could usher in the next phase in the ongoing push to strike a comprehensive trade deal by the end of the year.

Poilievre set to hit the speaking circuit in London, Berlin

Carney isn’t the only Canadian politician hitting the international hustings this week. Poilievre is set to embark on what Canadian Press notes will be his “first official international trip as opposition leader,” which the party is billing as a bid to “reinforce and strengthen our existing trade, commerce and diplomatic relationships.” (Monday through Saturday)

According to the party-provided itinerary, his first stop will be in London, where he’ll meet with unnamed “Members of Parliament and the business community,” as well as attend a CANZUK reception (Monday) and deliver the annual Margaret Thatcher Lecture at the Centre for Policy Studies. (Tuesday)   

He’ll then travel to Berlin to “speak on the transatlantic relationship at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which is associated with the governing Christian Democratic Union” (Wednesday) and “visit the port of Hamburg and a liquefied natural gas facility at the Jade-Wesser port on the North Sea coast.” (Friday)

“Poilievre’s office would not say at this point who exactly the Conservative leader is meeting with during the trip,” CP notes.

Poilievre ready to ‘seek common cause’ with Carney?

Before packing his bags for Europe, Poilievre sat down with former CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge for a one-on-one chat in which he reportedly comes out against the idea of triggering an election before the now-looming review of the current Canada – United States — Mexico free trade deal, and reiterates his call for the government to set up an “all-party committee on the matter,” as per an early report from CBC News, which “was given a recording of the interview ahead of its airing.”

Over the course of the 40-minute conversation, which is due to go live on Mansbridge’s weekly podcast tomorrow, Poilievre “said his main critique of (Carney) is that ‘in 10 months, he hasn’t done very much,’” CBC reports.

“’There’s been lots of announcements and papers signed and ceremonies, but not actual results. I think it would be better for us to see some results for him than to spend a half a billion dollars on an election less than a year after the last one.’”

It also offers “some fascinating glimpses into how Poilievre intends to shift his tone this year,” according to the Toronto Star’s Susan Delacourt, who was also provided with early access to the conversation.

“The interview took place right after Poilievre’s big Canada-U.S. speech in Toronto last Thursday, also notable for its tonal shift and the various ways in which the Conservative leader said he was willing to seek common cause with Carney in the ongoing fight with Trump,” she notes.

“(It) isn’t all praise for Carney, with Poilievre punctuating his answers with the many ways he takes issue with how the Liberal government has failed to get a better trade deal with Trump. But it was remarkable to hear him say he doesn’t believe Canadians need another election to sort out which approach would be the better one as the July deadline looms for the review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade deal.”

Poilievre “also told Mansbridge that he is very deliberately changing his media strategy to talk to as many people as possible, rather than limiting his interviews to sympathetic media or social-media blasts,” which “is definitely new for Poilievre, who has not sat down, for instance, with the Star since he became leader,” she points out.

“Merely stating that choice, and doing this podcast with a promise of wider outreach to the media, does seem to be a sign that a significant shift is taking place for Poilievre as a leader at this point in 2026.”

Also on the radar this week:

• Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson makes the rounds at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s annual trade show and industry meet-up in Toronto, where, according to his office, he’ll “deliver keynote remarks,” share the details of new support for “digital core scanning” and join New Brunswick premier Susan Holt for an afternoon announcement on “mineral resource development” (Monday), as well as unveil “investments in Canadian critical minerals.” (Tuesday)
• Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski stops by the Medicine Hat, Alta. headquarters of Landing Zones Canada Ltd., which “specializes in the design, development, production, and employment of advanced uncrewed aerial systems for both the civil and defence sectors,” to highlight new federal cash that, as per the advisory, will “support the commercialization of innovative products that utilize artificial intelligence,” with Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark also expected to make an appearance. (Monday a.m.)
• Moving still further west, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson visits an unnamed location in Castlegar, B.C. to promote new “investments” that, according to the advisory, will “help key sectors and businesses across B.C.’s Southern Interior pivot their operations to increase productivity, create jobs and find new pathways to growth in the face of tariff and trade challenges.” (Monday p.m.)

Roberston will also headline back-to-back fundraisers for fellow B.C. Liberal MPs Wade Chang and Zoe Royer at the Neptune Seafood Restaurant in Burnaby (Tuesday p.m.) and Bar Lucia in Coquitlam (Thursday p.m.), respectively, with all proceeds from ticket sales — $1775 per person in Burnaby and $250 in Coquitlam — earmarked for their respective local Liberal riding associations.

Elsewhere on the party circuit, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly joins fellow front bencher Rebecca Chartrand for a $250-per-ticket reception at Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Hotel (Tuesday p.m.).

Later this week, Joly will celebrate International Women’s Day at a $500-per-ticket evening event co-hosted by the  Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill Federal Liberal Association and Federal Liberal Women’s Club, which will include a “fireside chat” and “meaningful and impactful conversations,” according to the notice. (Friday p.m.)