BREAKING: Prime Minister Carney secures new defence partnerships at the 2026 NATO Summit, Announces New Investments
Press Release + Noah Note
In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada must be prepared to defend ourselves and our Allies. As the threats to North America evolve, Canada is focused on taking full responsibility for the security of our Arctic. Over the past year, Canada has undertaken a generational transformation of our defence posture through historic investments, major reforms, and stronger partnerships with our Allies. As a result, Canada is a stronger, more capable member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with greater ability to lead and advance the Alliance’s mission of collective security.
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, concluded his participation at the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye. At the Summit, Canada and our Allies signed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to NATO and to transatlantic security. Canada is on a clear path to meet NATO’s target of investing 5% of GDP in defence by 2035. We are moving fast, making ambitious and strategic defence investments, including in a new submarine fleet, the world’s second-largest fleet of icebreakers, and new aircraft, missiles, and cyber defences.
To strengthen collective defence and security, Prime Minister Carney announced a series of new investments and initiatives to build up domestic and Allied defence industrial capacity, reinforce deterrence along NATO’s Eastern Flank, support Ukraine, and mobilise private capital in support of shared security priorities.
In Türkiye, the Prime Minister underlined new defence partnerships and contracts that will catalyse growth in the private sector, including:
An agreement-in-principle with Telesat for ESCP-P to utilise Telesat Lightspeed to provide sovereign, reliable, and continuous military satellite communications in the Arctic – expected to result in a multi-billion-dollar investment in Canada’s defence sector.
An approximately $800 million contract with Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace to procure Joint Strike Missiles, a type of long-range missile, which will be integrated into future fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
An updated procurement strategy for the Light Utility Vehicle project to immediately limit the tender to two Canadian defence industry suppliers to deliver 1,600 to 2,100 vehicles and 400 to 500 light utility trailers for the militarised portion of the Canadian Armed Forces’ fleet.
To further reinforce the Alliance’s capabilities, grow the transatlantic industrial base, and support cutting-edge innovative defence and dual-use companies, Prime Minister Carney announced that:
Canada has agreed to open technical negotiations to join the NATO Innovation Sub-Fund. This aims to develop emerging and advanced technologies that are important for NATO’s defence and security, while giving Canadian innovators opportunities to access capital, strategic networks, and transatlantic markets.
Canada will host the 2027 NATO Industry Forum to strengthen cooperation between Allies and industry to advance defence innovation and industrial capacity across NATO.
To deepen trade and commercial ties with NATO Allies and to create new partnerships for Canadian workers and businesses, the Prime Minister announced:
The launch of negotiations with Germany toward a Canada-Germany Strategic Partnership Agreement (Partnership Agreement). As Canada’s largest trading partner in the EU, the Canada-Germany partnership supports careers across Canada. The Partnership Agreement will bring together cooperation across key priorities – including security and defence, technology, investment, supply chains and raw materials, energy, and space – under one umbrella, with concrete projects and commitments, to shape and advance cooperation in the years to come.
The launch of negotiations with Türkiye on a comprehensive Canada-Türkiye free trade agreement. With bilateral trade between Canada and Türkiye reaching $4.3 billion in 2025, the agreement will unlock significant opportunities for businesses, workers, and investors in both countries.
The Prime Minister announced the extension of the Canadian-led Operation REASSURANCE until 2031, including plans to increase Canada’s persistently deployed personnel to up to 2,600. As Canada’s largest overseas mission, Operation REASSURANCE helps deter Russian aggression on NATO’s Eastern Flank and fortifies our shared defence. The Prime Minister also confirmed that Canada will join Latvia and Denmark as the third Framework Nation of Multinational Division North, taking on more responsibility to protect NATO’s Eastern Flank.
Building on successful negotiations with international partners in Montréal this spring, Prime Minister Carney welcomed support from eight countries for the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB). Canada is helping lead the establishment of this new multilateral financial institution that will mobilise and deploy private capital quickly to bolster collective security. As the future host of its headquarters, this Canada-led Bank will provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence, security, and resilience initiatives across supply chains, helping governments and small and medium-sized enterprises address critical financing gaps. The DSRB will also spur significant job creation across member countries – with new orders for businesses in defence industries and new partnerships in emerging sectors from AI and quantum to space and cyber.
Prime Minister Carney announced that a portion of Canada’s previously announced commitment of approximately $2 billion in military assistance for Ukraine will support urgent and critical requirements, including:
$475 million for ammunition – including $75 million to deliver extended-range rounds through the Czech Ammunition Initiative – and $400 million to source over 39 million rounds of various calibre ammunition from Canadian industry.
Nearly $400 million to build 35 Canadian-made armoured combat support vehicles to sustain Ukrainian frontline combat units.
$50 million to provide critical information technology and engineering equipment to Ukraine.
Canada has been among Ukraine’s top supporters in the face of Russia’s aggression, committing over $25.5 billion in multifaceted assistance to Ukraine since 2022, including over $8.5 billion in military assistance.
At the 2026 NATO Summit, Prime Minister Carney met with the Secretary General of NATO and leaders from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. These meetings focused on advancing cooperation on shared defence and security priorities, including strengthening Allied capabilities, supporting Ukraine’s self-defence, and restoring safe and unrestricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Canada entered this NATO Summit on a clear upward trajectory – rapidly increasing defence spending and building the capabilities and infrastructure needed to defend ourselves and our Allies. Through new investments, deeper defence industrial partnerships, strengthened support for Ukraine, and an expanded role in reinforcing NATO’s Eastern Flank, Canada is delivering on its commitments and helping build a stronger, more secure Alliance. Canada will continue to prioritise investments in the Arctic as part of its ongoing work to strengthen collective defence, defend transatlantic security, and protect the values that unite us.
Quotes
“The threats facing us today are real and they will be met by a Canada prepared to defend our interests, our citizens, and our Allies. We are rapidly scaling our capabilities through historic investments in new submarines, icebreakers, aircraft, and cyber defences and strengthening our partnerships with Allies around the world. Today, we are a stronger, more capable member of NATO with greater ability to advance its mission of collective security. This is a strong, confident Canada taking full responsibility for our defence, for a more secure and more prosperous world.”
The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
“At this year’s NATO Summit, Canada reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Alliance, collective defence, and the security of the Euro-Atlantic region. As Allies strengthen deterrence, increase defence investment, accelerate defence industrial production, and sustain support for Ukraine, Canada will continue to lead by investing in the Canadian Armed Forces, deepening cooperation with Allies, and helping build a stronger, more secure, and more resilient NATO – ready to meet today’s challenges and those of the future.”
The Hon. David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
“As security challenges continue to evolve, a strong and united Alliance remains essential to our collective defence and security. Canada is making generational investments in defence to strengthen our sovereignty, support our defence industry, and deepen partnerships across the Atlantic. Together with Allies and partners, we are reinforcing security in the Arctic, addressing shared challenges across the Euro-Atlantic and beyond, and maintaining our steadfast support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty.”
The Hon. Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
At the 2026 Summit, NATO Allies were joined by 9 additional partner countries and the European Union.
Canada’s attendance at the 2026 NATO Summit follows targeted actions the government has taken over the past year to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in our military, including:
Increasing defence investments to 2% of GDP in 2025-26.
Providing pay raises to all Canadian Armed Forces members.
Launching the Defence Investment Agency to overhaul and streamline Canada’s defence procurement.
Launching the Defence Industrial Strategy to transform our defence industry by prioritising Canadian suppliers and materials, investing in Canadian innovation and commercialisation, and streamlining procurement.
Investing more than $40 billion to defend, build, and transform Canada’s Northern and Arctic regions.
Securing major defence contracts for critical equipment and infrastructure, including $6.4 billion to construct two new polar icebreakers, $2.1 billion over five years to acquire long-range missile capability for the Canadian Armed Forces, and $4.67 billion over five years to reinforce Arctic security through the Over-the-Horizon Radar project.
Signing a strategic partnership with Telesat and MDA Space to deliver the ESCP-P program in December.
Announcing that Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has been selected as the preferred supplier to begin negotiations for delivering Canada’s next fleet of submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy.
The Defence, Security and Resilience Bank will provide long-term, low-cost financing for defence, security, and resilience initiatives, helping to address critical financing gaps, with benefits for defence workers and industries, including small and medium-sized businesses.
Canada launched Operation REASSURANCE in 2014 following Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine. More than a decade later, it remains the Canadian Armed Forces’ largest overseas mission.
Canada has been among Ukraine’s top supporters in the face of Russia’s aggression, committing over $25.5 billion in multifaceted assistance to Ukraine since 2022, including over $8.5 billion in military assistance.
In February 2026, Canada extended Operation UNIFIER by an additional three years, to 2029, to ensure the Canadian Armed Forces can provide ongoing military training and capacity-building support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Noah Note: CALL IT A NIGHT. WOW. Holy there is a freaking lot to go through here. How to close a freaking NATO summit by dropping like everything at one freaking go. I need a moment lol.
To start, a couple things on the big announcements. LUV tracks with what we reported both on Monday and yesterday on X. LUV is being looked to be sped up. Part of that is a realignment on the goals and expectations of what suppliers will be involved.
The government aims to award on LUV by the end of 2027, potentially this year. The announcement does not confirm who is being downselected, but I am.of the belief that it is GM and Roshel. Both of whom were the domestic companies that met the requirements, although in GM case there was some that they may have just got through.
Utilizing Lightspeed to deliver on ESCP-P was also something that we expected. I speculated on it when the Partnership with MDA and Telesat was first announced. Lightspeed was already being constructed with Arctic coverage baked in. Its architectures and infrastructure, especially when Telesat began setting out dedicated military Ka-Band was already well aligned.to quickly fulfill those requirements.
Doing this allows Canada to secure priority access to the Lightspeed network, and deliver on an Arctic-Capable communication constellation years ahead of schedule to when ESCP-P was hoped to be delivered. Also provides a good stopgap as the other SATCOM Sisters are being worked on.
Joint Strike Missile, admittedly, I heard two weeks ago and kept to myself, when Kongsberg shadowdropped a new JSM customer. That has been in the plans a long while though, as we have so often reported over the last year. That and LRASM/JASSM are the primary Long-Range, Precision Strike capabilities that the RCAF in hunting. It has always remained in the books, and I am happy to see at least one of them get done and dusted.
OP Reassurance has been extended, just a few months after the last lol. Dedication goes a long way, and sexuring our position out past 2030 is a major show of support to our allies and goes a long way to show seriousness in commiting to our stance as as Eastern Front partner.
Same goes for joining up as a Framework Nation for NATO's Multinational Division North (MND-N), a major commitment that turns Canada from a local leader in Latvia into an Operation leader that stretches across the Baltic states. In the inmediate little changes, but taking on that leadership role does open up for further, deeper Canadian commitments to the alliance and Baltic Front at a time where Canada’s Army is about to undertake its most significant shift in doctrine woth the Army Warfighting Concept dropping this Fall.
It'll be interesting though, to see what comes of that. On top of that we have Canada joining the NATO Innovation Sub-Fund, which was first scooped oit by Pippa a few days ago, a near billion dollar allocation to Ukraine, and a new Strategic Partnership announcement with Germany.
All of this IS ON TOP of what was announced yesterday, including:
An alliance Globaleye Order for up to 10 Aircraft, plus some confirmation that Poland, Spain, and Finland are interested in their own AEWC fleets. An absolute massive win in it's own right considering that the Federal Government has been banking on significant export sales as the reasoning behind pushing through and securing Globaleye.
A new Critical Mineral Stockpiling Initative
Several new Space initatives, including Isar/MLS deal, Canada joining NATO STARLIFT, and a new pan-alliance framework for sattelite connectivity in HALO
A new Multinational Initiative to develop a new NATO common 155mm shell that Canada will be participating in
The first Tranche of DSRB Members Including Albania, Belgium, Greece, Latvia, Luxembourg, Romania, Türkiye, Ukraine
And of course Subs the day before.
All in all it is hard to see how Canada doesn't come out of this a winner. An expanding leadership role in NATO, The first DSRB members, a significsnt export win in Globaleye, and several procurement announcements including one project sped up by two years in LUV and several in ESCP-P.
If the Feds desore hwre was to show off, than show off they most certainly have. This is an absolutely world-class list of announcements to make on the Defence-side. Was everything I expected here? No. There was one other thing I was expecting, but in due time it'll come.
There was lots that I wasn't expecting though, and that is what matters in my books. At the end of the day, the Feds get to walk out of this Summit being able to hold theor head up high with real victories and commitments under their belt. You love to see it.
Please don't hate me! I just need to poke the ol' spell check sore wound again...
Admittedly, "sexuring our position" was objectively better than intended.
Thank you for all the amazing work and keeping us informed!