BRUSSELS – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Brussels immediately as Canada works to deepen its commerce and defence ties with Europe.
The prime minister landed within the Belgian capital round 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. His one-day go to features a assembly with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte and the European Union’s two most senior leaders.
Ursula von der Leyen has been president of the European Fee since 2019, and her job entails directing the EU’s coverage agenda and laws.
Former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa has been president of the European Council since final December, and his function units total priorities for the bloc.
Trudeau is scheduled to carry a day press convention earlier than departing for Ottawa.
His go to comes after years of rising commerce ties between Canada and Europe.
Ottawa has signed agreements to export hydrogen to Germany and launched talks with Brussels on how Canada can provide vital minerals for issues like electrical autos.
That collaboration would possibly deepen as European leaders be a part of Canadians in pushing again on U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of damaging tariffs and territorial growth.
Trump signed an order Feb. 1 to impose punishing tariffs on Canada — 10 per cent on vitality and 25 per cent on all different imports — however paused them till March 4 pending what he known as an effort to make an financial cope with Canada. He has additionally repeatedly blasted EU insurance policies and threatened to impose tariffs on European items, singling out the European auto business specifically.
The president’s repeated remarks about buying or annexing Greenland, which is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, have additionally prompted emergency conferences of EU leaders. Their considerations echo these of Trudeau, who stated final week that Trump’s acknowledged want to make Canada a U.S. state is “an actual factor.”
The Liberals have stated elevated commerce with Europe is likely one of the choices they’re leaning on to navigate a extra unsure relationship with the U.S.
Commerce between Canada and EU nations has been rising since a free commerce deal got here into power provisionally in 2017 — even if some nations, together with Belgium and France, have averted full ratification.
Ties between Canada and the EU may very well be additional bolstered by way of a defence and safety pact now being negotiated.
A Jan. 9 agenda for the EU council’s everlasting representatives committee, which co-ordinates the physique’s high-level plans, included an merchandise searching for “authorization to barter” a protocol for an eventual “EU-Canada safety and defence partnership.”
Brussels began forming safety pacts with different nations final yr, after taking on the concept within the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EU signed offers with Japan and South Korea final November. They each known as for “selling concrete naval co-operation,” reminiscent of joint workouts, exchanging info on defence industries and permitting navy vessels to dock for restore or resupply.
Brussels additionally has signed pacts with 4 European nations that are not a part of the EU, specializing in points like underwater infrastructure and border administration.
Final September, World Affairs Canada despatched Overseas Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly a briefing observe marked “for determination” with the subject “Safety and Defence Partnership Between Canada and the European Union.”
The briefing observe’s contents had been redacted underneath exemptions to access-to-information regulation and the division wouldn’t describe the doc’s contents, citing confidentiality.
“Canada and the EU have a powerful and multi-faceted relationship, and this contains on safety and defence points,” the division wrote in an announcement.
Canada is already a part of defence agreements with the EU that, amongst different issues, enable it to maneuver navy gear throughout EU borders to assist Ukraine. It additionally has despatched small numbers of officers to assist with EU defence missions.
The EU has been taking a bigger function in continental defence, after a long time of specializing in financial integration.
Since 2009, the EU has had a mutual defence clause that claims members have an obligation to help some other member that’s “the sufferer of armed aggression on its territory.”
The thought of an EU military has been mentioned over the a long time. French President Emmanuel Macron is especially enthusiastic in regards to the concept and has argued it will scale back the continent’s reliance on American assist.
Trudeau’s go to comes forward of upcoming conferences in Brussels of the NATO navy alliance and the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, which will probably be attended by Defence Minister Invoice Blair.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 12, 2025.
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