245
submitted 1 day ago by Sepia@mander.xyz to c/canada@lemmy.ca

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/42897886

Web archive link

Canada has joined a major European Union defense fund, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said Monday, as the country looks to diversify its military spending away from the United States.

The plan allows Canadian defense companies access to a 150 billion euro ($170 billion) EU loan program, known as Security Action for Europe, or SAFE. That would allow Canadians firms to secure cheap, EU-backed loans to procure military equipment.

“Canada’s participation in SAFE will fill key capability gaps, expand markets for Canadian suppliers, and attract European defense investment into Canada,” Carney said in a statement.

Canada is the first non-EU country to gain access.

Carney has said he intends to diversify Canada’s procurement and enhance the country’s relationship with the EU. He has previously said that no more will over 70 cents of every dollar of Canadian military capital spending go to the U.S.

...

top 22 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] CircaV@lemmy.ca 9 points 17 hours ago

The US exists to be a global disruptor. Their purposely disruptive policies will continue after Trump is gone by younger politicans who share his views. The sooner, faster and more thoroughly Canada disengages from the US, the better. This shit isn’t ending when Trump leaves.

[-] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 22 points 1 day ago

Time for Canada to join the EU!

[-] PlaidBaron@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago

Im gonna pass on that one. I like stronger ties to the EU but I dont want to be beholden to an entity that is largely shaped by the needs of Europeans. That works fine for Europe but we are not a European nation.

[-] VieuxQueb@lemmy.ca 9 points 23 hours ago

Especially with the chat control thing going on !

[-] sdfric88@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 23 hours ago

Fair point. I love stronger ties to them, a joint defense agreement, trade, etc. but you're right that we would always be a footnote in their considerations. Harmonizing our laws with the EU can always be done when it's favourable or reasonable for us.

[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 40 points 1 day ago

Cancel the F35 turds already.

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 day ago

Use them as bargaining chip until they're no longer useful. Cancel them as a result of American negotiation intractability.

[-] otter@lemmy.ca 28 points 1 day ago

Cool!

Talks on the U.K. joining the SAFE fund ended without agreement last week. Negotiations foundered over money, with Europe demanding more for Britain’s participation than the U.K. was willing to pay.

Well that's interesting

[-] cygnus@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 day ago

Canentry > Brexit

[-] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Governance in UK is still in shambles so that's unsurprising.

[-] AnarchoDakosaurus@toast.ooo 17 points 1 day ago

Seems like Labour is determined to show that they can also speed run an incompetent, dystopian surveillance state. Its almost impressive.

[-] BakerBagel@midwest.social 10 points 1 day ago

Who could have guessed that a return to Blairism would be so terrible

[-] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 day ago

I would like a land bridge pls

[-] ODGreen@lemmy.ca 3 points 14 hours ago

Newfoundlandbridge

[-] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 5 points 21 hours ago

And a moat so we can separate from the USA

[-] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 day ago

It's a short ferry ride from Newfoundland to France.

[-] Reannlegge@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 day ago

It’s some little island though is it not?

[-] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 day ago

Yup. Actual France is still on the other side of the Atlantic, haha.

[-] Reannlegge@lemmy.ca 6 points 22 hours ago

I was talking about the Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, but sure your comment makes sense to.

[-] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 hours ago

50 years old and I can still learn something new. Whodathunkit.

[-] Typotyper@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago

Heading west too

Petty protectionism dominating EU policy even in the midst of existential threat from Russia. Absolutely pathetic.

https://www.euractiv.com/news/canada-to-pay-e10-million-for-preferential-access-to-eu-funded-defence-deals/

The EU wanted Britain to pay 6 billion to join the scheme on equal terms and they walked. Then the EU let's Canada join for 10 million. So Britain is expected to pay 600 x the amount Canada pays. Does that seem reasonable to anyone?

I mean if that doesn't tell you that Europe is simply not serious about its defence then consider that they also wanted Britain to give France the rights to fish its waters as part of the deal. Finally getting serious about defending Europe but first let's talk about fish... It's an absolute joke.

While Europe is facing existential threat the EU is bickering with it's closest allies over bullshit. It's core members are putting their own national interests above the security of the entire continent and I think it's absolutely damning of the EU's ability to navigate this kind of situation where we need decisive and selfless leadership.

Glad to see Canada involved though.

this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2025
245 points (100.0% liked)

Canada

10712 readers
680 users here now

What's going on Canada?



Related Communities


🍁 Meta


🗺️ Provinces / Territories


🏙️ Cities / Local Communities

Sorted alphabetically by city name.


🏒 SportsHockey

Football (NFL): incomplete

Football (CFL): incomplete

Baseball

Basketball

Soccer


💻 Schools / Universities

Sorted by province, then by total full-time enrolment.


💵 Finance, Shopping, Sales


🗣️ Politics


🍁 Social / Culture


Rules

  1. Keep the original title when submitting an article. You can put your own commentary in the body of the post or in the comment section.

Reminder that the rules for lemmy.ca also apply here. See the sidebar on the homepage: lemmy.ca


founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS