Canada Joins EU's SAFE Defense Initiative to Enhance Military Cooperation

Politics

Canada Joins EU's SAFE Defense Initiative to Enhance Military Cooperation

3 days ago

News sources:

REUTERS

CHANNELNEWSASIA

ALJAZEERA

Canada Joins EU's SAFE Defense Initiative to Enhance Military Cooperation

Credited from: AA

Canada has officially joined the EU's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense initiative.
The SAFE program, a €150 billion rearmament fund, aims to bolster EU defense capabilities.
This partnership allows Canadian defense companies greater access to European markets.

Canada has reached an agreement to participate in the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, which will provide Canadian defense companies with expanded access to the European market, according to Reuters.

Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted that the SAFE initiative aims to fill "key capability gaps," with expectations of "tremendous opportunities" arising from this collaboration during a time of increased geopolitical tensions, as stated by both Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

The SAFE program, which was established to prepare the EU for defense self-sufficiency by 2030, is part of a broader strategy to counter military threats, particularly from Russia, as indicated in multiple statements from Canadian and EU leaders, according to Anadolu Agency, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

As part of this agreement, Canada aims to diversify its defense procurement away from the United States, with Carney emphasizing that "more than 70 cents of every dollar" spent on military capital will no longer go to U.S. suppliers, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.