Canada to be first non-European nation at EPC summit as Carney seeks allies

Mark Carney arriving in Yerevan. The Armenian capital is hosting the EPC summit on Monday. Photograph: Canadian Press/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Mark Carney arriving in Yerevan. The Armenian capital is hosting the EPC summit on Monday. Photograph: Canadian Press/Shutterstock Canada to be first non-European nation at EPC summit as Carney seeks alliesPM’s attendance at European Political Community meeting in Yerevan signals effort to build new ties after US rupture Canada is to become the first non-European country to attend a meeting of the European Political Community when the prime minister, Mark Carney, joins Monday’s summit of the 48-plus nation grouping in Yerevan, Armenia. Carney has said he is determined to build a new network of trade and diplomatic alliances after the loss of US markets under Donald Trump. His presence will also represent a show of western support for Armenia in its efforts to distance itself from Russia at a time when the US’s approach to Moscow’s opponents, such as Ukraine, is at best ambiguous. Canadian diplomats have rejected suggestions Ottawa might seek EU membership. Trump’s plan to pull more than 5,000 troops out of Germany over the next year and the economic impact on western economies of a prolonged US-Iran conflict will be major subjects of discussion in Yerevan. Armenia shares a border with Iran, but unlike neighbouring Azerbaijan has not alleged Iranian missiles have landed in its territory. Yerevan was chosen to host the E