BRUSSELS — In an effort to minimize Canada’s reliance on the United States under former President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a significant security and defense partnership with the European Union on Monday. This agreement aims to redirect Canada’s defense and security strategies away from the U.S. amid concerns over Trump’s provocative rhetoric regarding Canada.
Strengthening Defense Spending and Collaboration
A vital component of this partnership is to enable Canada to participate in the EU’s newly established defense spending initiatives, particularly within the framework of the multi-billion euro ReArm Europe program. This collaboration comes at a time when Canada and European NATO member states are committed to significantly boosting their defense budgets, a pledge that will be prominently reaffirmed during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
“While NATO remains the cornerstone of our collective defense, this partnership will allow us to strengthen our preparedness faster and better — to invest more and smarter,”
stated European Council President António Costa during a post-summit press conference. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized that this partnership would enhance Canada’s role within Europe’s evolving defense framework, remarking, “It’s just the beginning.” She further added that this collaboration would benefit industries, people, and strengthen transatlantic security.
Joint Initiatives and Future Collaborations
The joint statement released on Monday indicates that Ottawa will engage with Brussels to formulate a bilateral agreement concerning the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative. This program, which is available to EU countries and close allies, provides loans for arms purchases and facilitates joint procurement efforts among nations.
Prime Minister Carney expressed his satisfaction with the strides made toward participation in SAFE, noting, “It will help us deliver on our new requirements for capabilities more rapidly and more effectively, will help build our industries, secure our jurisdictions. What we will do should be more efficient for both of us, should be more cost-effective for both of us.”
Under the framework of the Security and Defence Partnership, Canada and the EU will collaborate on military assistance for Ukraine while also enhancing the interoperability of Canadian and European military resources. This includes improving the mobility of military personnel, equipment, and supplies across EU territories.
Furthermore, both parties plan to expand their cooperation on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects, particularly focusing on military mobility. They will also explore additional avenues for Canada’s involvement in more PESCO initiatives. Carney has called for accelerated progress in defense cooperation, particularly in aerospace and dual-use industrial projects, indicating a robust commitment to enhancing defense ties in the coming years.
To facilitate ongoing dialogue, the EU and Canada will establish an annual security and defense dialogue and consider setting up an administrative arrangement with the European Defence Agency, fostering a proactive approach to shared security challenges.