Canada signs defense pact with EU

BRUSSELS — Scrambling to reduce Canada's dependence on the Donald Trump-led U.S., the country's Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday signed a security and defense partnership with the European Union.

The aim is to shift Canada's defense and security relationship away from the U.S. in the wake of Trump's threats to annex America's northern neighbor.

A key issue is to allow Canada to take part in the EU's new defense spending programs under its multi-billion euro ReArm Europe initiative.

Canada and European NATO countries are also promising to dramatically increase their defense spending, something that will be reaffirmed by alliance leaders during their summit in The Hague starting on Wednesday.

“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,” European Council President António Costa said at a press conference after the summit.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that the partnership will strengthen Canada's role in Europe's rapidly evolving defense architecture. “It's just the beginning,” she said.

"'It will be good for our industries, it will be good for our people, and it will be good for the transatlantic security tool."

Von der Leyen added that Carney was "among friends" in Brussels.

According to a joint statement published Monday evening, Ottawa will now work with Brussels on a bilateral agreement related to the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) plan. The program is limited to EU countries and close allies, issuing loans to members to buy weapons and allowing other countries to take part in joint procurements.

Carney said at the press conference that he was "very pleased" to take a step toward participation in SAFE.

“It will help us deliver on our new requirements for capabilities more rapidly and more effectively, will help build our industries, secure our jurisdictions," Carney said. "What we will do should be more efficient for both of us, should be more cost-effective for both of us."

According to the Security and Defence Partnership, the EU and Canada will explore ways to cooperate on military assistance for Ukraine and to improve the interoperability and movement of Canadian and European military equipment, personnel and supplies.

They will also expand collaboration on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects on military mobility to enhance Canadian military mobility across EU territory, and will explore further opportunities for Canada's involvement in additional PESCO projects.

Carney called for more progress in defense cooperation areas such as aerospace and dual-use industrial projects.

The EU and Canada will also hold an annual security and defense dialogue and explore establishing an administrative arrangement between Canada and the European Defence Agency.