The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, concluded a successful visit to Türkiye, where he accompanied Prime Minister Mark Carney to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Leaders Summit.
At this year's Summit, the Minister reaffirmed Canada's strong commitment to NATO, collective defence, and transatlantic security at a time of heightened global instability. Discussions with Allies focused on strengthening deterrence and defence, increasing readiness, and remaining prepared to respond to evolving threats.
The Minister participated in high-level Summit sessions and held bilateral meetings to advance Canada's defence priorities, including strengthening cooperation with Allies, reinforcing NATO's eastern and northern flanks, and enhancing maritime security.
During a bilateral meeting with Türkiye's Minister of National Defence, Yaşar Güler, the Ministers signed a Statement of Intent to enhance bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. This agreement establishes a framework to expand collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including military-to-military dialogue, operational support, and the potential development of a defence industrial cooperation agreement, contributing to the security of the Alliance.
In discussions with France's Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, Minister McGuinty signed an Arrangement technique pour le Conseil franco-canadien de coopération en matière de défense. This arrangement builds on the Canada-France Security and Defence Partnership (2024) and the Feuille de route (2026). This renewed cooperative framework will maintain momentum on enhanced dialogue, interoperability, science and technology collaboration, military cooperation, and capability development.
The Minister also announced that Iceland will join the Maritime Security Partnership, an initiative that brings together Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway to strengthen maritime domain awareness, improve information sharing, and enhance coordination across the North Atlantic. The membership expansion underscores Canada's role in promoting stability and security in northern and transatlantic waters.
Canada has joined Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom in reinforcing their commitment to greater maritime burden sharing for deterrence and defence in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and Arctic Ocean. In response to the increasingly challenging security environment and the long-term threat posed by Russia, Allies will expand modern maritime capabilities, enhance training and operations, strengthen command-and-control and situational awareness, and reinforce NATO unity and collective security.
Canada continues to play a leadership role within NATO and remains committed to working closely with Allies and partners to uphold international peace and security, defend shared values, and address emerging threats. Through Operation REASSURANCE, Canada maintains its largest sustained military presence in Europe in more than 30 years, demonstrating its enduring commitment to NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the Alliance's Eastern Flank. As the Framework Nation for NATO's Forward Land Forces in Latvia, and now the third Framework Nation of Multinational Division North (MND-N), Canada is taking on greater responsibility to reinforce NATO's Eastern Flank, strengthen collective defence, and contribute to security and stability across the Euro-Atlantic region.
As an Arctic nation and founding member of NATO, Canada is also working with Allies to strengthen awareness, deterrence, and defence in the Arctic, while contributing to continental defence. Throughout the year, Canadian Armed Forces operations in the Arctic and the North are conducted in coordination with NATO activities, including enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY, in support of Canada's role in continental defence. Together, these efforts reinforce Canada's sovereignty and security interests and support stability across the region.
