Latest news with #SecurityPartnership
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canada-Europe security and defence pact to be signed Monday in Brussels
Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, welcomes President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 16, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) OTTAWA — A security and defence partnership pact Prime Minister Mark Carney will sign with European leaders in Brussels on Monday will be among the most wide-ranging agreements with a third country Europe has ever reached, a senior EU official said on Friday. Carney is flying to Europe Sunday for a Canada — EU Summit, planned for Monday evening with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. At the G7 summit in Alberta on Monday von der Leyen confirmed that the agreement will be signed on Monday in Brussels, calling Canada a 'key partner.' 'This is also a moment where we can strengthen Canada's role in Europe's rapidly evolving defence architecture,' said Von der Leyen on June 16. In a briefing to Canadian and European reporters on Friday, a senior European official said there will be two main outcomes from the summit — a joint statement that expresses views on global issues, such as conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the signing of the 'EU Canada Security and Defence Partnership Agreement.' 'This is an ambitious one,' the official said. 'And actually we've had this with a number of global partners, but the one with Canada would be one of the most far reaching of its kind that the EU has ever signed with a third country. It will open up new avenues for joint work on crisis management, military mobility, maritime security, cyber and cyber threats, and defence industrial co-operation.' Carney has been clear that he intends to expand Canada's ties with Europe as its relationship with the United States strains under the weight of tariffs and threats of annexation. Within two days of being sworn in as prime minister in March Carney flew to Europe, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London. It was during those meetings that he seriously began talking about signing on to Europe's new defence procurement plan known as ReArm Europe. In the throne speech on May 27, Carney's government pledged to join that program, and he told the CBC in an interview that same day he expected Canada to do that by July 1. On June 9, Carney announced a massive investment in Canada's defence budget to push Canada above the two per cent of GDP NATO target this country has promised — and failed — to meet for more than a decade. Joining ReArm Europe is part of that plan, with Carney repeatedly saying Canada can no longer put all its defence spending into the U.S. 'We are in close discussions with our European partners to join ReArm Europe,' he said on June 9. 'That will be an element of diversification. That's just smart. It's better to be diversified. It's better to have options. It's better to have different supply chains and broader partners.' The agenda for the summit posted by the European Council says the security and defence procurement agreement will allow Canada to join a European loan program for joint defence projects. That 150-billion euro program — called Security Action for Europe, or SAFE — is part of the ReArm Europe initiative. The EU official said on Friday that once the procurement agreement is in place, Canada will have to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the European Commission to begin discussions with member states about procurement opportunities. Leaders at the EU-Canada summit are also expected to discuss global trade and the wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. They will also commit to fully ratifying the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the Canada-Europe free trade agreement known as CETA. Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, said Carney also should put the 'pedal to the metal' on ratifying CETA. The deal entered into force provisionally in 2017, but several EU member states still need to ratify CETA at the national level. 'The real challenge there is to get Canadian businesses and also European businesses to take it up … and to start doing more business across the Atlantic, but that also requires political leadership,' Hampson said. 'It hasn't been fully ratified but that's something (Carney) can perhaps impress upon the Europeans.' After Brussels, Carney will travel to The Hague for the NATO leaders' summit, where discussions are expected to push forward on increasing the NATO members' defence spending target as high as five per cent of GDP, from the current two per cent. With files from Kyle Duggan, Dylan Robertson and The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025. Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese to negotiate on security and defence pact with the European Union
Anthony Albanese has officially confirmed that Australia will commence negotiations on a Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union, as Australia firms up strategic support with allied countries in a precarious global environment. Mirroring similar partnerships the EU has with Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, the agreement moves to boost defence co-operation between the two countries in areas such as defence industry, counter terrorism, and critical technologies. It would not be legally binding or considered a treaty, and Australia would not be required to send troops should an EU member be attacked. The Prime Minister confirmed he had accepted the invite following a trilateral meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles set to lead negotiations. The agreement will create a framework for how the two countries will work together on issues like cyber security, and counter-terrorism. Mr Albanese said the partnership was a 'key takeout' of his meetings at the G7. 'I very much welcome the EU's offer for a Security and Defence Partnership and Australia will warmly take it upand commence work immediately,' he said. 'This will open the door to joint defence procurement opportunities and will benefit both our industries and our security. 'At a time of global uncertainty, it is our collective responsibility to work together to uphold peace, security and economic prosperity. The need for greater allied collaboration also featured heavily in Mr Albanese's bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday (AEST). Both men spoke about growing collaboration between Australia and Japan to maintain a 'free and open Pacific' amid increasing aggression from China. Mr Ishiba said the state of international affairs was 'becoming more complex,' naming conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East and China's military presence in the Indo-Pacific. 'Under such circumstances, I think Japan (and) Australia co-ordination really continues to set an example of what a like-minded country's co-operation is, and going to going forward together, I would like to make sure that free and open in the Pacific will be realised,' he said. Mr Albanese said Japan and Australia shared 'a very special partnership and a strategic relationship'. 'Increasingly in recent years, our defence ties have become more important,' he added. 'Both countries are strong supporters of free and fair trade, and that is something that has brought prosperity to not just our nations, but to our region.' Mr Albanese's appearance at the G7 also coincides with a sudden 30-day Pentagon review of the AUKUS security pact by the Trump administration, which prompted fears the 2018 agreement could be scrapped. While it was expected to be a prominent topic of conversation during a 20-minute conversation between Mr Albanese and Donald Trump, the talks were put on ice after the US President departed the summit early due to the escalating violence between Israel and Iran. Fears for AUKUS were still somewhat allayed after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed in the deal during a press conference with Mr Trump. 'Yep, we're proceeding with that,' Sir Keir said following his bilateral meeting with Mr Trump. 'I think the person that is doing a review – we did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me. But it's a really important deal.' Although Mr Trump didn't go as far to back in AUKUS, he said of the UK and the US: 'We're very long-time partners and allies and friends, and we've become friends in a short period of time.'
LBCI
19-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
EU, UK reach deal to 'reset' ties ahead of London summit: Diplomats
EU and UK negotiators have agreed on a deal to "reset" their relations post-Brexit, diplomats said Monday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to host the bloc's chiefs at a London summit. EU diplomats said member states greenlit a trio of texts to be inked at the summit: a Security and Defense Partnership, a statement of EU-UK solidarity, and a Common Understanding on topics from trade to fishing and youth mobility. AFP
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
It will take Churchillian clarity to guarantee Europe's defence
Last week, we marked the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Eighty years ago, Britain emerged bloodied but unbowed from six long years of war. My grandfather, Winston Churchill, addressed the nation with gravity and pride, conscious that while peace had been won, the work of rebuilding and securing the future had only just started. He knew, as we must now remember, that peace is never a given; it must be earned, defended and maintained. Today Europe again finds itself at a moment of great consequence. The war in Ukraine has shattered the illusion that our continent's peace and security are settled. As threats mount at our borders and beyond, we are once again reminded that freedom must be safeguarded through shared effort and collective resolve. Next week, the UK and EU will meet at a summit that could – if the political will is there – mark the beginning of a new chapter in our strategic relationship. Independence from the European Union need not equate to isolation. Our security is inextricably linked to that of our neighbours, and it is imperative that we stand united in the face of shared threats. We have a duty – indeed, a pressing national interest – to work more closely with our continental partners in the defence of our continent. Now is the moment for both sides to agree a new Security and Defence Partnership. This was envisioned in the 2019 Political Declaration, signed by a Conservative government, which promised a broad, comprehensive and balanced defence relationship. The Government must deliver on that commitment. Such a framework would establish regular consultation and cooperation across the full spectrum of security and defence issues, anchored by an annual high-level UK-EU Security and Defence Dialogue. This is not a theoretical exercise. A structured partnership would allow Britain to engage meaningfully in areas where we have both capacity and interest. It would ensure that we have a seat at the table when EU Council-level discussions take place on issues that affect us – or where our voice could help shape Europe's collective response. Britain once played a leading role in European defence missions across the globe. The UK hosted the operational headquarters for Operation ATALANTA, which tackled piracy off the coast of Somalia. We were a major contributor to Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which continues to underpin stability in the Western Balkans. In today's geopolitical climate, a renewed British role in such missions would serve both our strategic interests and the broader cause of European security. A new partnership must also enable the UK to participate in major European initiatives that are rapidly reshaping the continent's defence architecture. Earlier this year, the EU launched a €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund. The aim is clear: to strengthen European defence capabilities through coordinated investment and common procurement. Participation would deliver strategic and economic benefits to both the UK and the EU. It would enhance interoperability between our armed forces, reduce duplication, and provide long-term certainty for defence manufacturers on both sides of the Channel. As Europe seeks to build scale and resilience in its defence industrial base, it would be short-sighted and counterproductive for the EU to exclude one of the continent's most capable military powers. This is not about rejoining the European Union. It is about doing what is right for Britain and what is necessary for Europe. We are living through a moment of extraordinary global uncertainty. Our adversaries do not distinguish between EU and non-EU countries. They target our values, our institutions, our infrastructure. To stand apart risks division and decline; to stand together is to lead with strength and purpose. In Churchill's time, Britain helped liberate Europe through courage, sacrifice and leadership. Today, we must help defend it with the same clarity of purpose. A new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU is not a retreat from sovereignty – it is the strategic exercise of it. It is a bold and necessary step to ensure that Britain remains a central pillar in the defence of the democratic world. If VE Day taught us anything, it is that peace can never be taken for granted. Alliances, when forged with mutual respect and shared purpose, amplify our strength rather than diminish it. That principle shaped the post-war order – and it must guide us now.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Strategic Initiatives, Private Investment Fuel Tanzania's Lithium Market
Tanzania is strengthening its position in the global lithium market, driven by a combination of government initiatives and active participation from international exploration and production companies. The country has witnessed a surge in investment since implementing a 2023 ban on the export of raw lithium, enacted to encourage downstream investments, with a strong pipeline of projects underway. Strategic Programs Entice Investment The Tanzanian government has launched several strategic programs to attract new investments across both the lithium and broader critical minerals sector. In late 2024, the country introduced the Tanzania Critical and Strategic Mineral Strategy ( Currently in the stakeholder consultation phase, the initiative aims to optimize the management of key resources such as lithium by facilitating exploration, mining and local beneficiation and strengthening supply chain management. Additionally, in October 2024, the Geological Survey of Tanzania announced a 73 billion TZS High-Resolution Airborne Geophysical Survey ( – a nationwide initiative designed to map the country's mineral resources, including lithium. With less than 20% of the country surveyed to date, the program aims to map up to 50% of Tanzania's market by 2030, supporting investments and exploration projects. In September 2024, Tanzania partnered with the Minerals Security Partnership ( a coalition of 14 Western countries and the European Commission, to increase access to financing, share technical expertise and strengthen supply chains for critical minerals such as lithium and graphite. These strategic programs are expected to support new investments across the lithium value chain. Private Sector-Driven Growth Private sector participation is also gaining momentum, with several international mining companies investing in Tanzanian lithium exploration and production projects. In July 2024, Australian firm AustChina ( completed exploration on four high-priority lithium targets at its Chenene Project, confirming high-grade lithium deposits. In April 2024, Dubai-based Titanium Lithium identified lithium-bearing minerals – including lepidolite, spodumene and hectorite – at its Titan 1 and Titan 2 projects. U.S.-based CGrowth Capital ( also discovered lithium deposits during a field mapping exercise in Tanzania's Dodoma Region. Amid these developments, the upcoming African Mining Week will connect Tanzanian lithium projects and developers with potential investment partners. The event will spotlight opportunities across Tanzania and Africa's entire lithium value chain, fostering collaboration and highlighting investment prospects. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference ( from October 1 -3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
