Good morning, everyone.

I would like to address three points in particular: First, the evolving situation in the Middle East. Second, I’ll touch briefly on our meetings in India. And finally, the work ahead here over the next 48 hours in Australia.

I want to start by thanking Prime Minister Albanese and the Australian people for the warm welcome and affording us so much time for important discussions.

To turn to the situation in the Middle East, Canada has long seen Iran as the principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East. The regime and its proxies have murdered hundreds, including Canadian civilians, and caused untold suffering for millions of people in the Middle East and beyond.

Despite more than two decades of negotiations and diplomatic effort, Iran has not dismantled the nuclear program nor halted its enrichment activities. Canada has long supported the imperative of neutralising this grave global threat.

Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against the regime’s oppressive rule. Which is why we support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and prevent its regime from threatening international peace and security.

Because Canada is taking the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish it to be.

We do, however, take this position with regret, because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order.

Despite decades of United Nations Security Council resolutions, the tireless work of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a succession of sanctions and diplomatic frameworks, Iran’s nuclear threat remains.

And now the United States and Israel have acted without engaging the United Nations or consulting allies, including Canada.

So where to from here? With the rapidly spreading conflict and growing threats to civilian life.

Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents.

We condemn the strikes carried out by Iran on civilians and civilian infrastructure across the Middle East. We implore all parties, including the United States and Israel, to respect the rules of international engagement.

Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal.

Resolution of this crisis will require a commitment to a broader political solution. 

Diplomatic engagement is essential to avoid a wider and deeper conflict. Innocent civilians must be protected, and all parties must commit to finding enduring agreements to end nuclear proliferation and terrorist extremism.

Canada will pursue this approach with like-minded countries and participants in the conflict.

Now briefly allow me to return to our work in this region. 

I just here arrived from Mumbai and New Delhi, where I met with Prime Minister Modi. Together, we are renewing and expanding the relationship between Canada and India.

As outlined in our Joint Statement, Canada and India are forging a new strategic partnership in energy, talent, innovation, and artificial intelligence.

Foundational to this partnership, it is the new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which we aim to conclude this year.

We are working fast and are already seeing strong results.

In India, we secured over $5 billion in commercial agreements. Agreements that will deepen cooperation between Canadian and Indian businesses, attract investment into our communities, and help double two-way trade to over $70 billion by 2030.

The Government of India and Cameco’s $2.6 billion uranium supply agreement will support India’s civil nuclear energy program and our shared commitment to clean reliable baseload power.

We also launched the Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy, backed by 13 educational partnerships between our leading universities.

With this visit, in addition to ministerial and official level meetings, there has been more engagement between the Canadian and the Indian governments over the course of less than the past year than in total over the past two decades.

This is a reflection of the world we face today and of the ambitions of both our nations to build and diversify. 

As we renew our relationship with major global powers, we are tightening our connections with our closest partners. It is that mission that brings us to Australia for the first bilateral visit by a Canadian Prime Minister in this country in almost 20 years.

To mark this important moment in the relations between Canada and Australia, I had the honour to accept an invitation to make a speech tomorrow in the Parliament, in Canberra.

In the coming two days, we will focus on forging new partnerships in investment, defence, security, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence. Australia is a natural partner for Canada in these areas and many more. Areas that will deliver enormous benefits to both of our peoples.

I look forward to today’s meetings with business and to meeting with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet tomorrow in Canberra.

Thank you very much.