European Union leaders say Canada will sign defence procurement pact this month
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KANANASKIS — European Union officials say Canada is likely to sign a defence procurement agreement with the continent when Prime Minister Mark Carney goes to Brussels later this month.
Carney is set to visit the administrative capital of the European Union on June 23 for the Canada-EU summit, where he will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
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At the G7 summit in Alberta on Sunday, both EU leaders said Canada’s involvement in Europe’s defence architecture is set to deepen.
Von der Leyen said Canada will sign a security and defence partnership with the EU which will allow it to join a European loan program for joint defence projects.
“Canada is a key partner in our transatlantic alliance. And we are looking forward with great interest for the upcoming summit between the European Union and Canada that we will be hosting in two weeks in Brussels,” Costa said.
“This is also a moment where we can strengthen Canada’s role in Europe’s rapidly evolving defence architecture,” said Von der Leyen.
The 150-billion euro program is called Security Action for Europe, or SAFE. It’s part of the ReArm Europe initiative that Carney has said he wants Canada to join as he moves to shore up national defence.
Von der Leyen said the SAFE program can be joined by Europe’s “very close allies, friends and partners” and the deal this month will allow for negotiations on bringing Canada into the program.
Ottawa has been looking to partner with the European Union on defence as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the future of the NATO military alliance.
Trump has said that Washington won’t necessarily defend NATO allies, something analysts have called a threat that undermines the entire point of the alliance.
Canadian officials have sought to reduce their reliance on American gear — particularly since Trump mused in March about selling allies “toned-down” versions of fighter planes with fewer capabilities than U.S. aircraft.
In March, the European Commission unveiled ReArm Europe, a plan that would earmark up to the equivalent of C$1.25 trillion for defence over five years.
It’s a loan program that allows member states to take on more debt to spend on defence without triggering EU restrictions on members with excessive deficits.
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