Canada and Europe Eye Deeper Defence Ties as NATO Faces Uncertainty

As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to question America’s commitment to NATO, Canada is seeking to deepen defence ties with the European Union, signaling a major shift in transatlantic security cooperation. The move comes as European nations explore new strategies to strengthen their defence independence amid growing geopolitical instability and pressure to rely less on Washington.

Trump’s recent remarks casting doubt on U.S. willingness to defend NATO allies have shaken the alliance’s foundations. According to defence policy analyst Federico Santopinto, Europe now finds itself vulnerable without American support. While European nations have matched U.S. military aid to Ukraine in dollar terms, Washington’s dominance in intelligence and surveillance systems has exposed Europe’s dependence. This has led many in the EU to conclude that sovereignty in warfare demands full control over weapon systems.

The European defence landscape is further complicated by a fragmented military market and inconsistent interoperability between member states’ equipment. The EU, lacking a formal army, is now turning to industrial coordination as a solution. In this context, a Canada-EU “security and defence partnership” is being negotiated, one that would involve defence procurement and possibly long-term collaboration on military technology and manufacturing.

For Canada, the talks represent an opportunity to diversify beyond U.S. military suppliers. Trump’s suggestion that allies may only receive downgraded versions of American fighter jets has added urgency. A recent EU white paper highlighted Canada as a key partner in boosting defence industry production. Political scientist Christian Leuprecht emphasized that European defence companies already have significant investment in Canada, laying the groundwork for deeper integration.

Europe’s ambitious ReArm Europe plan, which proposes up to $1.25 trillion in defence spending over five years, includes a $235 billion SAFE loan program to support joint defence procurement with trusted partners. While Canada has yet to sign a formal agreement to participate, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has expressed intent to join and leverage the plan to support aerospace and AI firms, especially in Montreal and Quebec.

However, not all EU countries agree on the direction of this plan. France advocates for full European strategic autonomy in weapons production, while eastern European countries like Poland and the Baltic states prefer continued U.S. involvement. Germany and Norway, meanwhile, have shown interest in partnering with Canada on submarine procurement, a move that could help Canada meet NATO spending targets.

Despite being a long-standing ally, Canada continues to face criticism over its defence spending. Ottawa has never met NATO’s two percent GDP benchmark, and calls are mounting for a higher target following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Leuprecht notes that Europe’s silence on Trump’s recent provocative statements about Canada reflects skepticism about Ottawa’s reliability on defence and energy exports.

Yet there remains strong support within the EU to keep NATO intact, and both Canada and Europe appear committed to strengthening cooperation without undermining the alliance. Officials say the upcoming NATO summit in June, which will be attended by Carney and Trump, could be a pivotal moment for the future of transatlantic defence. As Santopinto puts it, this is Canada’s chance to prove it remains a trustworthy and capable ally in a rapidly evolving global security environment.