Canadian prime minister applauds EU associate membership offer

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament on Thursday and voiced support for Canada becoming the bloc’s first associate member. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the idea just 24 hours earlier, insisting that a formal alliance would create economic security and common prosperity.

Carney proposed strategic cooperation regarding Canada and the EU’s strengths and a move toward seamless digital trade in a wide range of services. The prime minister named several areas of mutual support, including critical minerals, defense industrial capacity, artificial intelligence and computers, and energy security. Canadian land contains deposits of over 34 different critical minerals, including the top 10 most essential minerals necessary for energy transition, he said.

Canada could provide Europe with a reliable supply of minerals, and the EU could help Canada achieve advanced processing capabilities, Carney said. He cited complete supply chains for defense as a common objective. The EU and Canada’s shared values and goals made the alliance more than mere fair-weather allies. Full EU membership remained unlikely since Canada is not geographically located on the European continent, though Carney noted Canada’s nearly 2,000-mile Arctic border shared with Denmark.

The EU’s offer came after months of sparring between Canada and the Trump administration over tariffs and trade policies. President Donald Trump has also raised Canadian ire by repeatedly calling for the country to become America’s 51st state. Carney insisted that Canada did not aim to become a rival power set on dominating others. Canada sought resilience to ensure that no one could control the open market, undermine freedoms, or threaten territorial integrity, he said.

Has Trump made any comments on the new relationship? Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he viewed the possible EU-Canada tie as hostile. The United States would enact very serious tariffs on Europe or stop trading many things if it’s determined that the alliance is based on bad intentions, Trump said.