Canada officially requests to join the Joint Expeditionary Force, the military alliance led by the United Kingdom

Canada has officially requested to join the Joint Expeditionary Force, a military coalition led by the United Kingdom, as part of Ottawa’s strategy to diversify its defence partnerships and reduce its dependence on the United States.

The announcement was made by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following a meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in northern England. London expressed its support for Canada’s participation in the initiative.

The Joint Expeditionary Force currently brings together 10 NATO member states: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The alliance was created to strengthen the capacity for a rapid response to security situations.

During the talks, Carney and Burnham also discussed cooperation in the defence industry through the Global Combat Air Programme, a project to develop advanced fighter aircraft. Canada joined the programme as an observer in July 2026. The decision marks an intensification of military relations between Ottawa and European states.