Statement
December 1, 2025
Ottawa, Ontario
As Canada’s new government rebuilds, rearms, and reinvests in the Canadian Armed Forces, we are focused on providing the women and men in uniform with the equipment they need, when they need it. With the right tools in their arsenal, we will reinforce Canada’s sovereignty, create high-paying new careers for Canadian workers, and strengthen our defence (SIC) partnerships with Allies. As part of this mission, Canada signed a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union (EU) earlier this year, and launched negotiations toward Canada’s participation in Security Action for Europe (SAFE), a key pillar of the EU’s Readiness 2030 plan. For Canada and the EU Member States who are NATO Allies, this will help deliver on defence (SIC) capability targets more quickly and economically.Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced the conclusion of negotiations for Canada’s participation in SAFE – unlocking billions of dollars in potential defence opportunities for Canadian businesses. SAFE provides up to $244 billion in loans to EU Member States to support large-scale defence (SIC) projects, including acquiring critical capabilities such as ammunition, missiles, drones, artillery systems, and infantry weapons. As all 27 EU Member States increase defence (SIC) investments, greater cooperation on procurement opens massive new opportunities for Canadian manufacturers to build and export Canadian-made technologies and capabilities.
As EU countries strengthen their defence (SIC) capabilities through SAFE, Canadian participation will give our defence (SIC) industry expanded access to the European market, attract new reliable suppliers for the Canadian Armed Forces, and catalyse (SIC) massive private investment in Canada – creating higher-paying careers, growing Canadian industries, and bolstering transatlantic defence (SIC) readiness. With this agreement, Canada will become the only country outside of Europe with preferential access.
Canada’s participation in SAFE will be facilitated by the new Defence Investment Agency, which will remove red tape, centralise (SIC) review and approval, and bolster industrial capacity. With negotiations now concluded, Canada and the EU will work to swiftly ratify the bilateral SAFE agreement, with the goal to officially launch Canada’s participation in SAFE in the coming weeks.
