Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Washington on Tuesday for a closely watched meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, marking the most significant bilateral engagement between the two nations since Trump’s return to office. The visit comes at a time of heightened uncertainty over North American trade relations and continental security, with both leaders under pressure to recalibrate diplomatic ties. Carney’s trip signals Ottawa’s intention to assert itself more forcefully on the international stage following months of growing economic unease and strategic divergences. Among the chief concerns are lingering disputes over trade tariffs, supply chain friction, and the future of the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), which has come under renewed scrutiny from Trump’s administration. The former Bank of England governor, now leading Canada’s Liberal government, has sought to position himself as a steady, technocratic counterweight to Trump’s combative and unpredictable style. Yet the optics of this visit also reflect the pragmatic necessity of cooperation, particularly on defence. Joint border security operations and Arctic sovereignty remain high on the agenda, amid rising geopolitical tension in the polar region and beyond. For Trump, the meeting is an opportunity to reinforce his economic nationalist platform, particularly among Midwestern voters who view Canadian agricultural imports and industrial goods as competitive threats. Carney, by contrast, has stressed the importance of rules-based trade and institutional continuity—principles that have at times clashed with Trump’s more transactional approach. The bilateral discussions are expected to be tense, with both sides wary of domestic political fallout. Despite their differences, both leaders are under pressure to present a united front on pressing global issues such as Ukraine aid coordination, AI regulation, and climate adaptation. However, the immediate test lies in whether they can de-escalate recent trade skirmishes and recommit to economic cooperation without alienating core constituencies....