- Canada and the EU have committed to strengthening their cooperation on climate initiatives.
- Canada is donating 11,000 assault rifles and nine million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
- The leaders of Europe showed interest in Canada’s abundant mineral resources.
Reiterating their support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion, Canada and the EU have committed to strengthening their cooperation on climate initiatives.
At a summit in St. John’s, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Presidents Charles Michel of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. Both parties committed to working toward meeting Ukraine’s short-term military and defense requirements as well as making sure it has the necessary long-term security guarantees.
Canada summit
A military aid pledge of Can$2.4 billion (US$1.8 billion) has been made by the EU since the Russian invasion started in February 2022. In addition, Canada is donating 11,000 assault rifles and nine million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
The statements coincide with Congress’s inability to approve more funding due to political impasse, which has prevented the US, Ukraine’s largest military ally, from passing legislation.
Citing Canadian initiatives to provide military training in pro-Western Ukraine, Von der Leyen commended Canada for its support even before the conflict.
With Russian assets seized in response to the invasion, the EU has now trained 30,000 of the 40,000 Ukrainian troops it intended to train, and it will soon reveal its plans.
The leaders of Europe showed interest in Canada’s abundant mineral resources, particularly those that go into electric car batteries. They also extended an invitation to Canada to become a member of the “critical raw material club,” which the EU intends to start at the COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates next week.
A Canada-EU Green Alliance was also announced, to bolster collaboration in the fight against climate change, specifically concerning carbon markets and green hydrogen research.
