EU and Canada sign defence agreement as transatlantic relations evolve

C anada and the European Union have formalised a wide-ranging security and defence pact in Brussels, pledging closer collaboration on everything from military procurement to climate action. The move comes as long-standing alliances with the United States are strained by shifting politics and increasing global instability.

What happened?

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa signed a new security and defence partnership. The agreement promises increased support for Ukraine, coordinated action on the climate crisis, and joint work on artificial intelligence.

Speaking at a press conference, Carney described Canada as “the most European of the non-European countries,” adding, “We look first to the European Union to build a better world.” Costa echoed the sentiment, noting: “The European Union and Canada are among the closest allies in the transatlantic space. We see the world through the same lens. We stand for the same values. We have always stood by each other – and we will continue to do so.”