The security cooperation between the European Union and Canada has noticeably intensified in recent years—on June 2025, both sides signed the Security and Defence Partnership Agreement, and Canada became the first non-European country to join the EU's "Security and Defence Action" (SAFE) defense financing initiative. However, behind this move toward closer alignment lies a series of challenges—
Geographically, Canada cannot escape the influence of the United States
Canada is located on the North American continent, with its security ties to the United States deeply entrenched. The two countries jointly lead the operations of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and Canada is also a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. For every dollar spent on defense, approximately 70 cents flow into U.S. defense contractors. Military expert Song Zhongping points out that Canada cannot truly "tilt toward Europe" in the short term, as it remains geographically bound by American influence.
This means Canada can only pursue "diversification" in security cooperation, not "de-Americanization." Should the United States exert pressure, Canada’s policy flexibility will be significantly constrained.
Divergences within the EU hinder unified action
The European Union has never been a monolithic bloc. Countries represented by France advocate for "strategic autonomy" and favor deeper, substantive cooperation with Canada; meanwhile, Central and Eastern European nations such as Poland and those in the Baltic region prefer relying on the United States as the core of their security guarantee and tend to directly purchase U.S. military equipment.
This divergence directly affects the implementation of collaborative projects—the EU’s defense decision-making must account for national sovereignty concerns among member states, leading to low collective efficiency and potentially slowing down external defense cooperation with Canada.
The United States cannot remain indifferent to Canada’s growing closeness with Europe. Washington demands NATO allies increase defense spending, primarily to ensure these allies buy American weapons and serve U.S. interests. If Europe and Canada were to use this momentum to establish a Western coordination mechanism excluding the United States, it would be unacceptable to Washington.
In summary, the direction of EU-Canada security cooperation is clear: both sides share a common desire to reduce dependence on the United States. However, the depth and pace of collaboration are constrained by multiple factors, including geopolitical realities, internal divisions within the EU, industrial competition barriers, fiscal sustainability, and pressure from the United States. As scholars note, Canada’s accession to SAFE may carry more symbolic than practical significance. Yet it signals a profound shift in transatlantic relations—traditional allies are beginning to seek backup arrangements for themselves.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873091205777417/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.