Canada Applies to Join UK-Led Joint Expeditionary Force to Diversify Defense Ties
Canada's Strategic Move to Broaden Defense Partnerships
OTTAWA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Canada, seeking to diversify its defense ties away from the United States, has formally applied to join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force military coalition, Prime Minister Mark Carney's office said on Wednesday.
About the Joint Expeditionary Force
The force, a grouping of 10 North Atlantic NATO member states, is a rapid response military partnership.
Canada's Application and UK Support
"Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada has formally applied to join the Joint Expeditionary Force and welcomed the UK's support for Canada's participation in this important initiative," Carney's office said in a statement.
Canada's Broader Defense Objectives
Canada, already a member of NATO, is seeking closer military cooperation with European nations as it tries to reduce its reliance on the United States.
High-Level Meetings and Defense Cooperation
Carney had earlier met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in northern England.
Global Combat Air Programme Collaboration
The two men discussed opportunities for defense industrial cooperation through the Global Combat Air Programme, an advanced fighter jet project that Canada joined as an observer in July 2026, Carney's office said.
Members of the Joint Expeditionary Force
The JEF comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Costas Pitas)