Agreement creates new opportunities for Canadian workers and delivers economic benefits across high value sectors
September 25, 2026 - Gatineau, Quebec
The Government of Canada is acting to strengthen Canada’s economic and security interests by deepening cooperation with trusted international partners. In a global economy where security, and innovation drive growth, Canada is creating new opportunities for Canadian workers and delivering economic benefits across high‑value sectors.
Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, and the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada has signed a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA) with Germany. The agreement was signed on the margins of the German Foreign Minister’s visit to Canada.
The agreement establishes a trusted framework for the secure exchange of sensitive information with Germany, including intelligence, sensitive operational information and technical data related to defence and security activities. It strengthens Canada’s engagement with Germany, a key NATO partner in the Euro-Atlantic region, including by supporting defence cooperation. It would also expand opportunities for Canadian industry to participate in German contracts involving classified information, including those related to the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.
Canada and Germany maintain a strong bilateral relationship encompassing defence, security, trade and investment. Bilateral merchandise trade reached $34.3 billion in 2025, making Germany Canada’s sixth-largest merchandise trading partner globally and largest trading partner within the European Union. In recent years, Germany has increased defence investments and strengthened its contribution to collective security in Europe, creating new opportunities for enhanced cooperation in defence and security between Canada and Germany.
The GSOIA is consistent with Canada’s European Engagement Strategy while advancing Canada’s trade priorities by facilitating business opportunities for Canadian companies in key sectors including defence, security, aerospace, marine, energy and space. By enabling the secure exchange of classified information, this agreement will strengthen cooperation on trade, innovation, and advanced technologies. It will strengthen Canada’s position as a trusted partner in strategic sectors, support economic growth, and contribute to building a stronger, more competitive Canadian economy.
Quotes
“Canada and Germany are strengthening a trusted partnership that delivers real and tangible benefits for Canadians. This agreement will make Canada safer by improving the protection of sensitive information, strengthening cooperation with one of our closest NATO allies, and enabling more effective coordination on shared security priorities. It reinforces Canada’s ability to respond to emerging threats, support our defence and security objectives, and work seamlessly with like-minded partners to protect Canadians and advance our shared interests in an increasingly complex world.”
The Honourable Joël Lightbound
Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant
“Canada’s relationship with Germany is rooted in a shared commitment to international security, democratic values, and the rules-based international order. This agreement strengthens Canada’s ability to work closely with a key European ally on common defence and security priorities, while underscoring Canada’s role as a reliable and engaged partner in addressing regional and global challenges.”
The Honourable Anita Anand
Minister of Foreign Affairs
“As longstanding allies and partners, Canada and Germany have a strong history of working together to advance international peace and security. At a time of heightened global uncertainty, trusted cooperation between allies is more important than ever. The General Security of Information Agreement signed today strengthens our ability to share and protect sensitive information, enhances defence cooperation and interoperability, and supports more effective collaboration on shared security priorities. This agreement is a compelling example of how Canada is deepening partnerships with like-minded allies to protect Canadians and contribute to a safer and more secure world.”
The Honourable Stephen Fuhr
Secretary of State, Defence Procurement
Quick facts
Canada and Germany have been long-standing NATO allies, cooperating on collective defence and international security since West Germany joined the alliance in 1955.
GSOIAs are negotiated by Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Industrial Security Sector, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada and National Defence.
Canada and Germany are both parties to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which has been provisionally applied since 2017, and is pending full ratification by all European Member States.
Noah Note: Another one off the list. This GSOIA has been coming for a while, teased back a few months ago and then quiet for a bit before now. Anyways, the usual on GSOIA: GSOIAs are a very important step in opening up both markets and creating lasting industrial partnerships.
These are an important part of building up the Defence Industrial Base that gets missed by a lot of folks. It sets up a proper framework for sharing information that goes into things like tech transfers, joint cooperation on new technologies, and provides industry a way to access classified information to better bid on projects.
Basically, it provides a set way for government and industry to access classified information from a foreign country, or in this case a multinational organization. For industry, this means a process for getting verified and, in turn, access to the information they need to bid on projects or exchange classified information with foreign entities.
Canada has secured new GSOIA with the ESA, Spain, France, and Portugal in the last year, with several other similar agreements currently in the works. It is a foundational step in depeening cooperation, even if many often miss them. So it makes sense in a time of diversification that getting more similar agreements signed is a prioirty for the current government.
That is even moreso for Germany. Beyond CPSP, we expect to be working in near tandem with our German partners now on several sensitive areas include on Energy, Space Launch, AI with the Cohere/Aleph Alpha merger, and a whole host of other areas. Securing the pathway to sharing senesitive information back and forth is not a nice to have, but an absolute necessity in the current enviornment.
Of course, I expect we see more coming year or so. There is a mandate to get these sort of agreements signed and done with through this government.