Today, we celebrate the Day of German Unity, and we do so in a year that is particularly special for Canadian-German relations, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our partnership.

I can tell you that this partnership is so important to us that we have even dispatched not one but two of our most outstanding ambassadors to underscore our commitment to it.

We will raise a glass to that in a few moments!

But jokes aside.

I have spent the past few days attending the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly – and I will return to New York tomorrow.

It has been a week of intense talks, as many of you may have experienced firsthand.

However, this year a noticeable sense of urgency marked many of the conversations there.

This sense is rooted in a deep concern for the stability of the international order.

One thing we must accept is this: There is no way back to the past.

So we all have to adapt. Through new partnerships. Through new free trade agreements. And especially through new defence partnerships, since the geopolitical environment has become more hostile.

We share the firm conviction that we must continue to support Ukraine. Together, we will continue to provide the support necessary for Ukraine to prevail and secure a just and lasting peace.

Canada is one of our most reliable partners.

And Canada’s recent decision to procure German Type 212CD submarines is a milestone for both our nations. To see Canada choose German-Norwegian technology is a moment of great pride for us.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for the trust you have placed in our industry and in our capabilities.

And there is a poetic side to this deal: these submarines are built for extreme durability. In a very real sense, they will ensure that we share – at least – another 75 years of close partnership.

But our cooperation goes far beyond security.

Germany and Canada are aligning their efforts on strategic projects that will define our future, whether in AI, critical minerals, space or clean energy.

And we see similar alignment between Canada and the European Union, a partnership for which we – as one of the greatest beneficiaries of the European project – are among its strongest supporters, including in Brussels. And I am pleased to see the hard work that is going into the preparation of the upcoming EU-Canada summit.

None of these initiatives are isolated projects. They are the building blocks of a much larger vision.

That is why it is so important that Chancellor Merz and Prime Minister Carney have launched the negotiations on a Canada-Germany Strategic Partnership Agreement, which will elevate our cooperation to a new level.

This Joint Strategic Partnership is the blueprint for an enduring alliance between two nations that share the same values and the same determination to protect a free and open world.

Thank you very much!