Minister McGuinty to lead Defence Trade Mission to Japan
Press Release + Noah Note
June 21, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, will travel to Japan from June 22 to 25 to advance Canada–Japan defence relations, strengthen economic ties, and promote collaboration between Canadian and Japanese defence industries.
For the first time, the Minister, alongside Minister Sidhu, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, will lead a Defence Trade Mission, to advance economic, industrial, and technological collaboration between Canada and Japan. During the trade mission, the Minister will engage with Canadian and Japanese companies and stakeholders to promote partnership opportunities in key sectors, including defence, aerospace, advanced technologies, and supply chain resilience. These activities support Canada’s broader Defence Industrial Strategy, which focuses on strengthening domestic capabilities, deepening partnerships with allies and partners, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Canadian industry.
During his trip, the Minister will meet with Japan’s Minister of Defense, Shinjiro Koizumi, to discuss shared security priorities, including regional stability and opportunities to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
The Minister will hold a callback during his trip. Details will be shared as they become available.
Noah Note: Take note of the dates, and also take note of who joins the Minister on this trip. I expect we'll see something, there are a few opportunities, primarily in space where Canadian companies are pushing hard for Japanese contracts.
Also take note for CPSP. I dont think we do thos without Mcguinty present, so make note of when he is and isnt in country.
Looking to see if he drops in to SK on the way back. It’s CPSP time!
New article from defense news states Hanwa is building a K9 factory in the UAE to build for middle eastern customers. Is this not like shooting themselves in the foot, when it comes to their CPSP offering of building them in Canada for export? If Poland is building them for European sales and UAE is for the middle east, where exactly would a new Canadian factory be selling them to? Certainly not the US and Australia has their own Hanwa manufacturing connection so where would a Canadian product go if not purchased by the CAF? Just saying Hanwa really didn't think this through by making a deal with the UAE while including manufacturing of the same vehicles for foreign sales in the Canadian offer.