Prime minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that Canada reverses the trend of “deep integration” in the United States and explores all the reinforcement options for its national defense – which include the “Golden Dome” anti -missile defense concept of the American president.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed on Tuesday That the federal government is maintaining the United States of a new economic and security partnership “naturally includes the strengthening of Norad initiatives and related initiatives such as the Golden Dome”, after Trump has unveiled plans for the proposed system.
It was despite Carney, who has repeatedly warned of the “threat” that the United States poses for the economy and sovereignty of Canada under Trump, which said that the Prime Minister told journalists today.
“For almost half a century, we, we had a relationship with the Americans, was a regular process of improving integration” on security and between the economies of the two nations, said Carney after a cabinet planning forum in Chelsea, Quebec.
“This process of deepening integration is completed. We are now in a position where we cooperate if necessary, but not necessarily cooperate. ”
Carney quoted talks with European allies on becoming a full-fledged partner in the continental defense plan for Rearm Europe, as well as the ongoing examination of the F-35 contract, as examples of Canada looking beyond the United States for “other options”.
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“You will see a very different set of partnerships, security and economic in the future,” he said.
“But to be absolutely clear: when it is in the interests of Canada, (sound) first interest in cooperating with the Americans, to conclude agreements with American relations, and in particular in examples such as the defense ballistic missile, it can be the best option. And if so, we will continue that. “
Canada does not have a ballistic anti -missile defense program, after refusing to join an American system two decades ago. He monitors other missiles and air threats alongside the United States through Norad, but does not have the authority for shooting for more complex threats such as ballistic or intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Experts in defense policy and military officials told parliamentarians in 2023 that the threats posed by Russia and China have evolved past ballistic missiles and require new, integrated air and anti -missile systems to counter.
The update of last year’s defense policy has embarked on an investment in air defense and integrated anti -missile.
Before the federal elections, Carney hired $ 6 billion to acquire Australian maintenance systems to detect threats in the Arctic. The systems will be part of the Norad modernization project of $ 40 billion in Canada, which has been continuing for years.
Carney said anti-missile defense was just one example “where it can be logical” so that Canada continues to join in the United States, as well as the automotive sector.
The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic Leblanc, who is also responsible for trade in Canada-US, is currently in Washington to meet American counterparts on the strengthening of these relations and others.
“But all the elements of our economic relations or our security relations have no meaning, and we are actively and aggressively pursuing alternatives,” he said.
Carney said that the Throne’s next week’s speech, which will be pronounced by King Charles III, and his government’s first budget to deposit this fall will exhibit Canada’s plan to reinvest in national defense.
This will include measures to comply with Canada’s commitments to NATO, which asks its members to spend at least two percent of GDP in defense. Carney said he was planning to achieve this goal by 2030.
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