Minister McGuinty advances Canada’s defence priorities with Allies and partners in Europe
Press Release + Noah Notes
February 15, 2025 – Munich, Germany – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, concluded a visit to Europe. During the trip, he participated in the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting, the 33rd Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, and the 62nd Munich Security Conference.
On February 12, 2026, at the Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, Minister McGuinty highlighted Canada’s ongoing commitment to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture through a persistent military presence in Europe. He emphasized the importance of addressing current and emerging security challenges and their implications for transatlantic security. The Minister also reiterated Canada’s commitment to meeting the 2% defence spending target this fiscal year and investing 5% of gross domestic product in defence by 2035.
Minister McGuinty also met with key Allies to discuss shared defence priorities and signed cooperative arrangements alongside his counterparts, which included:
A Joint Vision Statement with the Netherlands, expressing both countries’ intent to reinforce defence and industrial cooperation, including continued support for Ukraine and the exploration of new commercial opportunities and investments.
A Roadmap toward a strategic partnership between Canada and France. The Roadmap is designed to deliver concrete, actionable outcomes across areas of shared interest and highlights the strategic value of the two countries’ cooperation to advance mutual defence priorities within the Alliance.
During the meeting, the Minister announced that Canada is joining the Initial Alliance Future Surveillance Control Support Partnership Committee, enabling Canada to help shape decisions that advance Canadian industry and strengthen collaboration with NATO and European partners. Additionally, the Minister and NATO Allies signed a Letter of Intent on multinational approaches to military airworthiness to strengthen airpower resilience, readiness, and interoperability.
On the margins of the Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Minister McGuinty hosted a Northern Defence Dialogue with Arctic Allies, including Finland, Iceland, and the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Norway, Sweden and the United States. At the dialogue, Arctic Allies reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhanced collaboration on Arctic and Euro-Atlantic security and defence, including through NATO’s increased posture in the region.
At the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, Minister McGuinty reaffirmed Canada’s support to Ukraine and updated Allies on recent military assistance, including:
$100 million in small arms and ammunition;
$50 million to the Danish Model to purchase capabilities through Ukraine’s domestic industry, bringing Canada’s total contribution to $190 million; and
$45 million in critical medical equipment.
From February 13 to 15, 2026, Minister McGuinty participated in the Munich Security Conference, where he met with his European counterparts to discuss international security challenges and transatlantic defence cooperation. During the conference, Minister McGuinty held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Germany, Norway and the European Union. He also met with defence industry leaders.
Canada has now officially joined the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, with the Minister’s signature of the Canada-EU SAFE Agreement. With the conclusion of a SAFE agreement, Canada has made important progress on closer defence cooperation with the EU. He reiterated that through this agreement, Canada continues to reinforce collective security, strengthen cooperation with Allies and partners, and support the development of key defence capabilities that enhance international security.
By joining SAFE, Canada is not only contributing to European and Ukrainian security but is also creating new export opportunities for Canadian defence companies in one of the world’s largest markets. Canadian industry is now able to participate in the fulfilment of SAFE contracts with up to 80% Canadian content— an opportunity for our defence sector, and an opportunity to integrate Canadian components more deeply into European supply chains.
During a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of Denmark and Foreign Ministers for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, the ministers signed a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, which will enable enhanced cooperation in defence and security activities, particularly in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, as well as defence innovation, defence materiel and industrial cooperation, mutual logistics support, and training.
These engagements position Canada to continue strengthening collective defence, enhancing Arctic and North Atlantic security, and delivering tangible contributions alongside Allies and partners.
Quotes
“Meeting with Allies and partners in Europe reinforced the importance of unity and sustained action in addressing evolving security challenges. Canada is strengthening our contributions to NATO, deepening cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic, and continuing our steadfast support to Ukraine. Together, we are advancing a more resilient and secure Euro-Atlantic region.”
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
Quick facts
NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s international security policy. Canada steadfastly supports its principle of collective defence by providing direct support to NATO missions and operations.
Current Canadian contributions to NATO include:
leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia;
deploying ships on a rotational basis to NATO’s Standing Naval Forces; and
contributing personnel, including to key leadership positions, and to NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, the NATO command that coordinates the provision of military equipment and training to Ukraine.
Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $23.5 billion in overall multifaceted aid to Ukraine, including $6.5 billion in military assistance.
The Munich Security Conference brings together world leaders, senior politicians and experts to discuss current events and pressing issues related to international security and defence policy.
Operation (Op) UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) military training, professionalization, and capacity-building mission in support of Ukraine. Since the start of Op UNIFIER, the CAF has trained over 47,000 members of the Security Forces of Ukraine.
In December 2025, Canada and the EU concluded negotiations for the Canada-EU SAFE agreement, which is a key pillar of the EU’s Readiness 2030 plan. Canada’s participation will enhance defence readiness on both sides of the Atlantic.
Noah Note: Despite the tragedy of the last week, and all the delays that came with it, Canada’s time at Munich has been a success. While much flew under the radar, Canada has further committed to working on comprehensive security agreements with many of our key allies and now has yet another NATO pathway to work with in the Alliance Future Surveillance Control Support Partnership Committee.
No doubt there will be love and support for Bombardier and its numerous AEWC aircraft there. Of course, with the NATO AEWC requirement now heading back to the drawing board, and Canada on its own hunt for AEWC aircraft, there is a convergence on the role we can play, and how interested we might be in shaping decisions about the upcoming and future AEWC capability of NATO.
Then there’s SAFE. Of course, despite my pessimism and what some of you call dismissal to it, I am happy to see it officially signed on and committed. No matter what Canada stands to benefit from SAFE, least of all given the price we are paying for entry. Yes, that can and will change; however, at a time where we are trying to prop our Defence Industrial Base and on the eve of the release of our new Defence Industrial Strategy, it is important to try and secure new avenues of export. This, at the least, gives us a bit of a leg up against others. Certainly not enough to prop us above, but anything to level the field is valuable.
Keep in mind also that it is goodwill. Goodwill and political points are valuable in themselves and aligning to SAFE does provide that, even if we do miss out on the juicy parts of it. I’m still shocked how many people continue to prop the myth we’ll be getting funding from this. We won’t, and while many will be disappointed (it wasn’t ever a significant part of these negotiations) it is best not to be dismissive of the benefit this can give to industry, many of whom are very excited and happy to have a better inroad to Europe.
Overall I think we can be satisfied with everything, and I think we’ve taken several big steps in the right direction by recognizing that we need to both pursue relations at the multinational and individual level to find success in Europe. We’ve taken lots of important steps the last year, hopefully we see more steady progress this year.
Be interesting to see if the negotiations with the French lead to the akeron atgw acquisition ….possibly some built over here….(normally a very un French approach)