Germany’s ties with Canada are closer than with almost any other country outside Europe. Both countries stand for a rules-based international order, work as close partners in NATO and the G7, and share the conviction that security and economic strength must go hand in hand today more than ever.

Seventy-five years after the establishment of our diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Wadephul is travelling to Canada for a bilateral visit. He will be accompanied by a business delegation that reflects the wide spectrum of German-Canadian cooperation, ranging from space and e-mobility to critical raw materials, renewable energies and hydrogen.

Europe’s and North America’s security are inextricably linked

Canada plays an important role in Europe’s security. Over 2000 Canadian soldiers are stationed in Latvia as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence. Canada is also a reliable partner in support for Ukraine and provides training to Ukrainian soldiers.

Germany and Canada want to further intensify their security and defence cooperation, including closer cooperation between their defence industries. The German-Canadian Agreement on the Mutual Protection and Exchange of Classified and Protected Information, which is to be signed during Foreign Minister Wadephul’s visit, is an important step in this regard. This Agreement creates the basis for exchanging sensitive information on joint projects securely.

Canada’s plans to procure new submarines from Germany also provide an opportunity for long-term industry and security cooperation. This involves more than just a potential large commission for German industry, as having identical submarine systems will facilitate joint exercises in NATO, create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic and foster the Alliance’s deterrence and defence capabilities.

Commenting on the planned procurement on 6 July 2026, Foreign Minister Wadephul said:

From hydrogen to space – investing together in the technologies of the future

The expansion of our economic relations is a further focus of Foreign Minister Wadephul’s visit. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union forms an important basis for this goal. Since its provisional application in 2017, trade has increased significantly. The next steps are to further dismantle remaining trade barriers and to ensure greater harmonisation of standards.

In this regard, there is particularly great potential in the critical raw materials sector. Closer cooperation can help both countries to broaden their supply chains, reduce dependencies and safeguard the supply of raw materials needed for batteries, digital transformation and the energy transition, for example. The space, power grid and e-mobility sectors also offer great opportunities. Accordingly, Foreign Minister Wadephul’s business delegation is to create new connections between companies and investors.

Working towards a strategic partnership

Through the planned Strategic Partnership Agreement announced in July 2026 by the two Heads of Government, Germany and Canada aim to establish a long-term framework for their cooperation. The aim here is to develop further concrete cooperation from the already close political partnership in order to foster greater security, resilient supply chains and economic opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.