Canada Seeks Deeper European Defence Ties Amid New Trade Tensions With the U.S.
Ottawa, September 17, 2026: Canada has formally applied to join the United Kingdom-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government moves to strengthen defence cooperation with European countries.
The JEF is a rapid-response military partnership currently made up of 10 NATO members: the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Canada’s application would expand the country’s defence links with northern European allies.
Carney’s government has been seeking to diversify Canada’s international defence relationships at a time when relations with the United States have become more complicated. Canada remains a member of NATO, but Ottawa has increasingly emphasized cooperation with European partners.
Carney’s latest discussions with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also covered defence-industry cooperation and artificial intelligence. Canada has joined the Global Combat Air Programme as an observer, giving Ottawa another avenue for cooperation with Britain and other partners involved in advanced military aviation.
The move comes amid fresh tensions between Canada and the United States over trade. On September 17, U.S. President Donald Trump directed American government agencies to exclude Canadian goods from federal procurement contracts, citing Canada’s restrictions on access to its government market.
At the same time, the European Union has proposed opening the possibility of making Canada its first “associate member.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said closer cooperation could cover areas including defence, energy, technology, critical minerals, the Arctic and cybersecurity.
The proposal has drawn a response from Washington. Trump has criticized the idea of closer Canada-EU integration and threatened possible trade consequences for the European Union.
For Canada, the combination of increased European defence cooperation and closer economic discussions with Europe represents a significant development in its foreign-policy relationships. Ottawa is also expected to continue negotiations with Washington because the United States remains Canada’s largest trading partner.
The JEF application itself does not mean Canada has already become a member. The request will have to be considered by the existing member countries before any participation arrangements are finalized.
The developments highlight Canada’s expanding efforts to build partnerships across Europe while managing its longstanding economic and security relationship with the United States.
