The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, has concluded a productive visit to Europe, including engagements in Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers' Meeting and the 35th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), and in Luxembourg, where he strengthened bilateral defence cooperation and advanced key initiatives with Allied partners.
At the NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting, Minister McGuinty highlighted Canada's continued progress in strengthening its military capabilities and contributions to NATO's collective defence. He outlined significant defence investments made in 2025 and reaffirmed Canada's commitment to meeting the new NATO Defence Investment Pledge of 5% of gross domestic product by 2035. These investments are enhancing the readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces and strengthening Canada's contributions to collective defence, continental security, and international stability.
While in Brussels, Minister McGuinty held a series of bilateral meetings with Allied counterparts to advance shared priorities, including strengthening operational cooperation, deepening defence industrial ties, and reinforcing collective security. This included the signing of a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with Iceland, which will enhance regional security, expand opportunities for joint training and operations, and strengthen coordination on shared priorities such as Arctic security. The agreement underscores Canada's commitment to working closely with Nordic and North Atlantic Allies to address evolving security challenges.
At the UDCG, Minister McGuinty joined Allies and partners in discussions on sustaining support for Ukraine. Canada reaffirmed its commitment to providing military training and assistance and emphasized the importance of coordinated long-term support to strengthen Ukraine's security and resilience. Canada also confirmed its readiness to contribute to a scalable force to the Coalition of the Willing, should conditions allow, reinforcing its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and long-term defence capacity.
Following his engagements in Brussels, Minister McGuinty travelled to Luxembourg, where he further advanced Canada's defence partnerships and cooperation with Allied counterparts. During his visit, the Minister met with Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, including in emerging domains such as space and cyber, as well as continued collaboration within NATO.
The Minister also held a bilateral meeting with Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes, at Bourglinster Castle. The meeting reinforced the strong defence relationship between Canada and Luxembourg and identified opportunities to deepen cooperation between the Canadian Armed Forces and the Luxembourg Armed Forces.
A key focus of discussions in Luxembourg was the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank (DSRB) initiative. Canada and Luxembourg are working closely as NATO Allies to advance the DSRB as an important effort to strengthen collective security and resilience. Minister McGuinty thanked Luxembourg for its leadership and support in encouraging broader Allied participation ahead of the NATO Summit and expressed Canada's commitment to continued collaboration toward the successful launch of the initiative.
These engagements set the stage for the NATO Leaders' Summit in July, where Canada will continue to work closely with Allies to advance shared priorities, strengthen collective defence, and support international stability.
