Canada Seeks to Join European-Led JEF Military Partnership

Canada has formally applied to join the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a European-led military coalition, as Ottawa seeks to strengthen its security ties with Europe amid worsening relations with the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made the request during a visit to the United Kingdom after meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. Von der Leyen has also proposed that Canada become the European Union’s first associate member.

The JEF was established in 2014 and is led by the UK. Its members include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The force is designed to respond rapidly to security threats in Northern Europe, the North Atlantic-Arctic region and the Baltic Sea.

Although the JEF operates independently of NATO, it can support NATO and United Nations missions when required. Its combined rapid-response forces number about 10,000 troops, but the coalition has not yet been deployed on a major high-risk mission.

Canada previously received an invitation to join the JEF in 2015 but declined, saying there was no immediate threat requiring membership. Ottawa is now reconsidering the proposal as concerns about dependence on the US grow.

Canada and the US are currently involved in a trade dispute that has seen both countries impose tariffs on each other. The tensions have encouraged Ottawa to diversify its economic and defence partnerships, particularly with European countries.

Canada is also increasing defence spending. Carney’s defence plan is expected to raise annual military spending from around C$40 billion to more than C$60 billion over the next five years.

Analysts say Canada’s geographical position in the North Atlantic, its NATO membership and its longstanding ties with the UK make closer cooperation with the JEF strategically relevant.

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