United for Security and Defence: Canada and the EU Join Forces in a Strategic New Partnership
Published on July 23, 2025
On June 23, 2025, Canada signed the Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union[1].
This partnership reflects the government’s commitments to build defence capabilities, reduce U.S. reliance and increase NATO defence spending.
What Are the Key Priorities?
The main priorities include: strengthening dialogue and cooperation, building defence capabilities and increasing transatlantic security. While the partnership is not a comprehensive agreement and provides no specific timelines for implementation, it is an important first step to strengthening Canada’s international partnerships, defence potential, and resiliency.
Strengthening Cooperation:
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establishing a series of dialogue and consultation mechanisms, including:
- posting a defence representative to the European Union;
- continuing the annual Security and Defence Dialogue between Canada and the EU; and
- coordinating approaches and information sharing in the defence and security space, including non-proliferation and disarmament, space security, emerging and disruptive technologies, cyber, counterterrorism, violent extremism, hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference, the nexus between climate change and security, and the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.