Agencies Ottawa

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has identified China as the country's foremost national security threat, citing foreign interference, cyber activity, and strategic ambitions in the Arctic, as reported by Express Tribune.

Carney made the stark declaration during a televised leaders' debate on Thursday evening, marking one of his most direct statements yet on Canada-China relations as the federal election campaign enters its final week.

"China," Carney said bluntly when asked to name the greatest geopolitical threat to Canada. The statement drew sharp reactions domestically and abroad and underscored a growing shift in Canada's foreign policy posture.

Speaking the following day during a campaign stop in Niagara Falls, Carney expanded on his comments, warning that Chinese interference poses a direct challenge to Canada's democratic institutions. "China is the biggest threat from a geopolitical sense. We're taking action to address it," he told supporters. He added that safeguarding Canadian sovereignty -- particularly in the Arctic -- would remain a cornerstone of his national security agenda if re-elected, as reported by Express Tribune.