Canada Deepens European Ties as US Trade Rift Grows
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Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly is meeting with Saab AB and Ericsson in Sweden, where she also hopes to strike an economic partnership with the country, according to a person familiar with her plans.
Joly is pushing for investment in Canada in the midst of a., while emphasizing the government’s plan to increasedefense spending. The minister was expected to speak with Saab about theGripen E fighter jet, said the person, who asked not to be named in order to speak about private discussions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced areviewof Canada’s plan to buy dozens of F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp. earlier this year and laternamedthe Gripen E plane as a potential alternative. But Reuters reported this month that some Canadian officials have made astrong casefor sticking with the F-35 jets.
The industry minister will also meet with her Swedish counterpart, Ebba Busch, on Aug. 18 to discuss a formal partnership between the countries to collaborate more closely on critical minerals, clean technology, defense investment and other matters, said the person.
The visit is part of a push by the Carney government tostrengthen tieswith European partners and reduce its reliance on the U.S. for trade and security. Canada has already inked apartnershipwith the European Union that aims to create jobs in both regions.
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Joly will travel to Finland on Wednesday, where she’ll mark the start of construction of an icebreaker that will be jointly built between Davies’ shipyards in Helsinki and Quebec. She’ll also meet with Finland’s foreign and defense ministers.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was in Helsinki on Aug. 18 to attend a meeting of five Nordic nations and to discuss the Ukraine war with officials from Finland, Sweden and Denmark. She told reporters that Arctic defense is a priority for her government.
“Given the shifting geopolitical landscape, given the security threats, given the issues relating to climate change, there is a pragmatic need to have this conversation with theNordic fivein order to ensure that we are working together in the interests of Arctic security,” she said.
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