Canada promises to join European defense program to attend speech on the throne – Country
Canada will join the EU's new defense program, which aims to rapidly increase military weapons production to free it from the U.S. dependence.
King Charles III announced his move to join Europe, and he read a speech on the government's defense and security plans on the throne of parliament.
“The government will protect Canada's sovereignty by rebuilding, rebuilding and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces,” the king said.
“This will invest in transatlantic security with Canadian European partners by joining Europe. It will invest in the north to strengthen its operations in the north, an integral part of Canada as the region faces new threats.”
The EU announced in March that the REATM Europe plan will be $12.2.5 trillion in five years. It includes a loan program worth about $235 billion, called Operation Europe Security (Security), which will allow countries to purchase or build weapons together with other countries outside the EU.
EU members approved the loan plan earlier on Tuesday.
In a white paper released in March, outlining the EU's approach to the defense industry, the EU said, “The cooperation with Canada has been strengthened and should be further strengthened… including their respective initiatives to promote the production of the defense industry.”
The federal government has been talking to Europe about deeper security partnerships for more than a year.
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Former Foreign Minister Melanie Joly's current industrial secretary told Canadian media in March that U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated speeches about Canada's annexation of Canada stimulated these negotiations and held them at the “advanced” stage.
Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to Europe before and after the election to meet with European leaders and to partner with defense among the topics discussed.
“We are happy to work with you to build a security and defense partnership,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Carney at a meeting in Rome earlier this month.
She added: “Let’s see how far we will be to the summit.
Europe's European plans were also inspired by Trump's election and repeatedly threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO unless European partners pay more for defense.
“Europe must now take greater responsibility for their own safety and defense,” Von der Leyen said in a statement after approval of the security loan scheme.
The free-activity platform includes “promoting Canadian participation in European engagement programs to support transatlantic security programs and prioritizing Canadian investments – every dollar spent wisely and effectively.”
Meanwhile, Carney said his administration will focus on a “Made in Canada” defense procurement strategy that takes precedence over the Allied partnership.
The platform promises to have nearly $40 billion in new military spending over the next four years and reach its NATO target of 2% spending by 2030. These expenditure commitments are not included in the throne speech.
Carney said last week that while Canada will seek to work with the United States on defense, “can make sense anywhere” (including Trump’s “golden dome” concept) to enable space missile defense systems, his administration is also studying “other options” among allies.
“You will see a very different set of partnerships, security and economic development,” he said, referring specifically to European negotiations in Europe.
Carney told his Liberal Caucus on Sunday that the Liberal government “will fight to ensure Canadians have the best relationship with the United States and we will take the time to do so.”
“At the same time, we will strengthen partnerships with reliable allies,” he said. “Canada has what the world needs and we will defend the values that the world respects.”
– Canadian media files
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