The pace of defense and industrial convergence between Canada and European countries is accelerating amid tensions with the United States and declining confidence in US commitments to European security. However, this shift remains constrained by political, military, and economic considerations that limit both sides' ability to fully distance themselves from Washington.
According to a report published on Tuesday by the US website "Politico," Canada has intensified its defense cooperation with Europe over the past year, seeking to diversify its partnerships and enhance its military capabilities. This comes amid repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to annex Canada and European concerns about the future of US commitments to continental security.
Increasing Cooperation and Shared Interests
Ottawa has joined the European Union's "SAFE" (Security for Europe) program, dedicated to financing arms purchases with loans worth up to 150 billion euros. It has also applied to join the British-led Joint Force Infantry and selected a German company to build its new submarines, alongside interest in Swedish early warning aircraft.
According to the website, this partnership is based on shared interests, including Arctic security, providing critical minerals for European defense industries, and exchanging expertise in air defense and military technology.
The site quoted Camille Grand, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, saying: "Ottawa is moving toward limited convergence with Europe, but it does not want to completely separate from the United States."
European Constraints on Cooperation
Despite Canada's accession to the "SAFE" program, this does not automatically allow it to benefit from all European defense tools and programs. The participation of countries outside the European Union remains a point of contention among member states.
According to "Politico," countries including Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland support expanding the scope of participation, while France, Greece, and others prefer prioritizing European companies. This makes the future of cooperation dependent on negotiations regarding the EU's next budget and defense funding conditions.
Furthermore, Canada's membership in the British-led Joint Force Infantry does not enjoy the consensus of its members. Some countries believe that defense cooperation should remain within the framework of NATO, despite shared interests in addressing security challenges in the Arctic.
US Fighters as a Test of Convergence
The fighter jet file stands out as one of the most significant tests of Canada's readiness to expand its defense partnership with Europe at the expense of reliance on the United States.
After committing to purchase 16 US-made "F-35" fighters, the Canadian government reversed its decision regarding the purchase of 72 additional aircraft, with the possibility of turning to Swedish "Gripen E" fighters.
US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, warned that choosing Swedish fighters instead of the remaining US aircraft could have repercussions for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), through which the US and Canada jointly defend the continent's airspace.
Grand noted that Canada's reliance on bilateral cooperation with the United States constitutes one of the most prominent constraints on its orientation toward Europe, especially since economic relations between Ottawa and Washington are much larger than its relations with the EU.
This reality reflects that the Canadian-European defense convergence, despite its acceleration, does not mean a strategic disconnection from the United States. Rather, it expresses an attempt to diversify partnerships and enhance defense autonomy, while avoiding steps that could lead to further tension with Washington.
It is worth noting that the European Commission confirmed on September 17 that the project to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Canada does not target the United States in any way. This statement came 24 hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "very strict" tariffs or halt trade with the EU if the bloc proceeded with a proposal to grant Canada "partner member" status.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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