Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, broke with tradition on Monday by visiting Europe rather than the United States for his first foreign trip as the country’s leader, with his warm welcome in France and the UK standing in stark contrast to his country’s fracturing relationship with its southern neighbor.

Mark Carney, Canada's new prime minister, chose to meet political leaders from Europe rather than U.S. President Trump in his first foreign trip on Monday. Carney, who took office Friday, was greeted warmly first in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron and then in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

A week ago, when Carney won his party's leadership contest, he invoked Canada's national sport, ice hockey, which has long been locked in rivalry with US teams. "Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves," Carney declared to rousing applause.