Canada and Europe sign new partnership to deepen security, trade relations – Country
Canada and the EU opened a new era of transatlantic cooperation on Monday, formally signing a security and defense partnership at a joint summit in Brussels.
The agreement promises Canada and Europe to cooperate on defense, a step towards Canada, which participates in the continent’s new defense procurement program, namely Europe.
Prime Minister Mark Carney travels to Brussels to attend the Canadian EU summit and is seeking more defense procurement options as Canada seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States.
Before signing the final deal, Carney met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the summit.
Costa said Canada and the EU are “looking at the world through the same lens” and the conference took the partnership to the next level.
Von der Leyen told Carney that he was “among friends.” She said Canada and the EU are two powerful democracies, bound by historical ties and linked by a “dynamic, just and open” trade partnership.
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She said the EU wants not only to reaffirm friendship and partnership with Canada, but also to reshape it. She said the agreement was “the most comprehensive” ever completed.
“We know we can count on you, you can count on us,” she said.
Carney said leaders are putting it into practice, they discussed some things on the G7 and have been working for years. Carney said the deal was crucial to Canada and “showed the way forward.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Canada and the EU will hold an annual “Security and Defense Dialogue” involving senior officials.
The agreement also promises two partners to expand cooperation to support Ukraine, improve Canadian military operations in Europe, and strengthen maritime cooperation in areas such as the Indo-Pacific, such as the Indo-Pacific.
Canada will need to sign a second agreement with the European Commission before it can participate in the European initiative of the European Commission of Europe.
The Security and Defense Agreement also promises further cooperation on emerging issues in cybersecurity, foreign intervention, disinformation and external space policy.
Carney also met with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever before the Canadian EU summit.
De Wever said Canada’s partnership with the EU is now crucial because “we are already awake in a world that doesn’t seem so friendly.”
Official government briefing reporters said during the trip that the partnership is expected to make procurement easier and more affordable, while also allowing Canada to diversify its equipment sources.
On Tuesday, Carney headed to The Hague for the Nato Summit, and members will decide whether to fully recognize the defense spending target, increasing from 2% to 5% of GDP.
Carney said Canada will increase its defense spending this year earlier this month since its inception in 2014 to reach its two per cent target.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
