Canada and European Union Finalize SAFE Agreement to Strengthen Defence Cooperation
Canada finalizes SAFE defence agreement with the EU, strengthening joint procurement, defence supply chains, and support for Ukraine.
Canada and the European Union have reached a major milestone in their defence partnership, concluding negotiations on an agreement that will allow Canada to participate in the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) Instrument — a €150-billion initiative designed to accelerate joint defence procurement, enhance industrial capacity, and bolster readiness across allied nations.
The announcement was made today through a joint statement by Prime Minister Mark Carney and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, marking a significant deepening of transatlantic cooperation at a time of rising global instability.
SAFE is Europe’s flagship defence investment tool aimed at strengthening the continent’s defence industrial base through coordinated procurement, shared production, and streamlined planning. Canada’s participation ensures Canadian defence companies can directly benefit from procurement opportunities while contributing to integrated, future-ready NATO-aligned supply chains.
“In these geopolitically turbulent times, SAFE is a means to increase cooperation, meet defence targets and spend better, as we address short-term urgency and long-term needs,” the leaders said in their joint statement.
Today’s announcement builds on earlier commitments outlined in the Canada-EU Security and Defence Partnership, signed at the highly successful Canada-EU Summit earlier this year. The SAFE agreement represents the next step in this evolving relationship — positioning Canada as a key partner in strengthening continental and global defence capabilities.
Carney and von der Leyen emphasized the shared strategic objective: to create resilient defence supply chains, expand industrial capacity, and generate both economic and security benefits for workers, manufacturers, and allied defence systems.
“In strengthening our respective industrial bases, we will create more jobs, more growth and more opportunities which are crucial for our defence readiness,” the statement noted.
A core component of SAFE is its support for Ukraine. With Russia’s war of aggression now in its fourth year, SAFE is intended to reinforce the Ukrainian defence industry and ensure Ukraine receives stable, long-term military support.
“SAFE will also provide vital support to Ukraine and increase the resiliency of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Carney and von der Leyen affirmed. “We continue to stand by its side, as we work towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
The finalized agreement positions Canada to play a larger role in European and global security efforts while strengthening defence innovation and industrial collaboration between Canadian and European partners.
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