TRUMP SLAMS CANADA’S EU ‘ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP’ BID AS OTTAWA EYES UK MILITARY PACT

Thu 17 September 2026:

Canada on Wednesday formally applied to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), marking a significant step toward closer military cooperation with the UK and its European partners.

“Prime Minister (Mark) 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.

The statement came after Carney and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham met in the UK, where the two leaders discussed strengthening the longstanding defense relationship between the two countries.

The JEF is made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

The prime ministers also discussed opportunities for defense industrial cooperation through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which Canada joined as an observer in July this year, according to Carney’s office.

Separately, Downing Street said the leaders exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, agreeing on the importance of governments and the technology sector working together to address shared concerns and protect online safety.

Burnham also welcomed Canada becoming the first observer nation in the Global Combat Air Programme this summer.

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Trump warns of ‘very serious tariffs’

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would impose heavy tariffs on the EU if he judged the bloc’s move to offer Canada associate membership to be a hostile act toward Washington.

“I think it’s laughable… Canada has been a terrible trade partner,” Trump said when asked by reporters upon landing in North Carolina. “If I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe on many things.”

“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we put very heavy tariffs,” he said.

Earlier Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that the EU needs to develop new, closer partnerships in response to mounting geopolitical and economic pressures. She said ties with Canada should be brought “to the highest level possible.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also attended the address. Speaking directly to him, von der Leyen said: “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU.”

“We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world. And we will now build our shared future as well,” she said.

-Source: AA

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