Canada and the European Union signed a new security and defence partnership today at a joint summit in Brussels.
The agreement commits them to collaborate more on defence and is a step toward Canada participating in the continent's massive new defence procurement program, known as ReArm Europe.
Under the terms of the agreement, Canada and the EU will hold an annual “security and defence dialogue” involving top officials.
The agreement commits both partners to expand co-operation to support Ukraine, improve Canadian military mobility in Europe and enhance maritime co-operation in regions of "mutual interest" like the Indo-Pacific.
Canada will need to sign a second agreement with the European Commission before it can take part in the $150 billion euro ReArm Europe initiative.
The security and defence agreement also pledges further collaboration on emerging issues in cybersecurity, foreign interference, disinformation and outer space policy.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
