Canada backs EU plan for associate membership, seeks deeper defence and energy ties
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Justin Trudeau welcomed the European Union's proposal for Canada to become its first associate member, emphasizing cooperation on defence, critical minerals and energy security, while U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the idea.
Justin Trudeau told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that Canada and the European Union are "stronger together" amid what he described as a "geopolitical rupture". His remarks followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's suggestion to open the door to Canada’s associate membership – a status that does not yet exist within the EU.
Trudeau said a Canada-EU alliance would serve as a "beacon for other democracies" and highlighted potential collaboration on defence, critical minerals, liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and clean-energy technologies. He also proposed expanding people-to-people links, including participation in the EU's Erasmus+ programme, and stressed that the proposal does not aim to create a new power bloc.
"I am not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great-power rival – only with better manners," he told members of the European Parliament.
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the idea as "laughable" and warned that the United States could impose "very serious tariffs" on Europe if it viewed the move as hostile. Trudeau responded that the alliance is a positive development and affirmed Canada’s sovereignty in choosing its international agreements.
The EU and Canada already share a free-trade agreement and cooperate in defence and research. Any associate-member arrangement would require approval from all 27 EU member states and a vote in the Canadian parliament, and could take several years to define.