Canada applies to join UK-led military coalition

The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada has formally applied to join the Joint Expeditionary Force, a military alliance led by the United Kingdom, in an effort to diversify its defense ties away from the United States.

In a statement, Carney’s office said, “Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada has formally applied to join the Joint Expeditionary Force, and welcomed the United Kingdom’s support for Canada’s participation in this important initiative.”

Canada, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is seeking to strengthen military cooperation with European countries in an attempt to reduce its reliance on the United States.

The two sides discussed opportunities for industrial cooperation in the defense sector through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), an advanced fighter jet project to which Canada joined as an observer in July 2026, according to Carney’s office.