Canada and the European Union have announced the creation of the “Alliance for the Future” – a объединение of like-minded countries intended to protect them from geopolitical instability and pressure from major powers, Bloomberg writes.
The new partnership was announced at a summit in Montreal attended by Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The alliance will be open to other countries joining.
According to von der Leyen, the international order is increasingly breaking down, meaning countries can no longer rely on the mechanisms of the old world system. Carney also said that the multilateral institutions that states previously depended on have been weakened.
According to a joint statement following the summit, Canada and the EU plan to deepen their economic partnership. This includes integrating supply chains, coordinating economic security policy, cooperation in the defence industry, and increasing European investment in the extraction of critical raw materials in Canada.
The sides also agreed to assess the possibilities for supplying Canadian liquefied natural gas to the European Union. In addition, they are considering building new subsea cable infrastructure to improve connectivity between Canada, Europe and Asia.
A separate track of the talks is the possibility of Canada obtaining associate member status of the EU. Carney said he will hold new meetings in the coming months with von der Leyen and the President of the European Council, António Costa, to determine the format and scale of such a partnership.
In March, representatives of the Canadian government are due to meet with the European Commission for further discussions. In June, Carney plans to take part in a summit with EU leaders, during which the sides intend to conclude the negotiations.
The closer ties between Canada and the European Union come amid a deterioration in both sides’ relations with the United States. In particular, trade talks between Ottawa and Donald Trump’s administration reached a dead end in August, after which the sides introduced additional tariffs. Although negotiations have recently resumed, a swift agreement is not expected for now.
Canada has significant reserves of energy resources and critical minerals, as well as advanced capabilities in artificial intelligence. The European Union, for its part, offers the Canadian economy access to a market of around 450 million consumers and the opportunity to reduce dependence on the United States.
- The European Union and Canada also mentioned Ukraine in a joint statement following the bilateral partnership summit in Montreal . Brussels and Ottawa reaffirmed their commitment to continue supporting peace in Ukraine, as well as our country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.