Canada and E.U. Pull Together as America Pushes Them Away
Canada signed a defense partnership with the European Union on Monday, the latest indication that two of America's closest allies are deepening their military cooperation as President Trump pulls away and promises to reduce the United States' role in international security.
Mr. Trump has been pushing for other countries in NATO — which includes Canada and most European Union nations — to invest far more in their militaries, accusing them of relying too much on the United States.
He has called into question America's commitment to defending some NATO members and has launched a trade war against some of the closest traditional allies of the United States.
Now, his approach is rewiring the world's web of partnerships.
America's longtime allies are moving to ramp up their own military spending, in line with Mr. Trump's demands. NATO leaders will gather in The Hague on Tuesday, where they are expected to agree to sharply raise military spending.
But as Canada and Germany, France and other countries in the 27-nation European Union pour money into protecting their own territories and preparing for a future rife with geopolitical tension, they are also striking new alliances. They are seeking to pull closer together, while also moving to be less dependent on an increasingly capricious United States.
'We have an excellent partnership, between two strong democracies, bound by historic ties, and connected by a trade partnership that is dynamic, fair and open,' Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said in Brussels, as she greeted Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. 'It is time to go to the next level, to step up our the intensity of our partnership.'
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