The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, in Montréal, Quebec.
Together, the ministers discussed the importance of the transatlantic relationship as it relates to growing geopolitical instability and key threats to global security, including Russia's unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine, as well as the situations in Iran, Syria, and the Sahel. They agreed on the need to ensure our continued collaboration to find durable solutions to this wide set of challenges, informed by feminist and inclusive perspectives.
Minster Joly and Minister Baerbock discussed collective responses on ways to increase pressure on President Putin, as well as to address the critical needs of the European energy market. Canada and Germany can work together in order to address the short term shortage of energy in Europe but have also agreed that for the solutions to be durable, they must be aligned with our climate change goals.
The ministers also expressed grave concern over the global food crisis exacerbated by President Putin's war of choice. They agreed on the need for continued collaboration to allow for the free movement of grain. The ministers agreed that multilateralism is key in reasserting the fundamental UN Charter principles of sovereignty, peace and security.
The ministers also spoke and exchanged notes concerning their current work on their respective Indo-pacific strategies.
In addition, Canada thanked Germany for their commitment on becoming a full member of the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCS COE) in Montréal and for the expertise and contributions that Germany will bring.
The ministers concluded their meeting by reiterating the strong values that serve as the foundation of the Canada-Germany friendship. Minister Joly thanked Minister Baerbock for her first official trip to Canada, and both ministers expressed their desire to deepen their countries' already strong relationship.
