Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads to France on Thursday to attend the Francophonie summit, where the shadow of a broader conflict in the Middle East is likely to hang over the gathering of French-speaking nations.
The summit, which is held every two years, will be held on Thursday and Friday in Villers-Côtiers and Paris.
France holds the presidency of the Francophonie from Tunisia and says the summit’s theme will be “creativity, innovation and doing business in the French language.”
The leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen the French language, address geopolitical challenges, ensure that the digital space reflects their linguistic and cultural diversity, and increase economic ties between countries.
A senior government official speaking on background said Canada will focus on strengthening relations with French-speaking African countries. The federal government plans to announce funding for scientific research as well as French content and platforms.
The ongoing crises in two Francophonie member states – Lebanon and Haiti – are also expected to impact the leaders at the summit.
Canada is trying to arrange a conversation with representatives of Lebanon at the summit.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that the international community must do everything it can to help avoid a larger regional war, but recent developments have many fearing that is already happening.
The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon turned into broader violence last week, as Israel expanded its missile campaign targeting Hezbollah and launched a ground operation across Lebanon’s southern border. On Tuesday, Iran fired an estimated 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel promised consequences.
A statement issued by the Secretary-General of the Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, on September 27, expressed the solidarity of the French-speaking family with the Lebanese people and called on all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
In Haiti, a new report released on September 30 said nearly half of the country’s population of more than 11 million people are experiencing hunger crisis levels or worse as gang violence strangles life in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and beyond.
Last week at the UN General Assembly, Trudeau urged world leaders to work together to build a serious and immediate plan to meet the humanitarian needs of Haitians.
Canada will also have representation at the summit from Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec.
Francophonie leaders are expected to decide on applications to join the International Body of La Francophonie, including Nova Scotia’s application for observer status.
This is the fourth time Trudeau has attended the summit since he was first elected in 2015.
—With files from The Associated Press.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
