Category: EU

Canada, EULeave a comment

“What this arrangement would look like is unclear. It has no legal framework yet. It could include allowing Canadians to live, study, and work in Europe visa free; Canadian businesses access to the European Investment Bank; and countries to form new defense partnerships with the North American nation.

Colin Henderson

But the details are almost secondary. Americans — including any closeted anti-Trump Republicans in Congress hoping for things to get back to normal once he leaves office — should see it and realize the damage is already done. The U.S. has rapidly transformed from a dependable guarantor of global security into a threat. Follow us on Apple News In his second term, Trump has put NATO in jeopardy, promising to pull the U.S. out of the alliance if other members don’t increase defense spending. He has used tariffs (or the potential of tariffs) to influence other countries’ domestic politics. He … Continue reading “What this arrangement would look like is unclear. It has no legal framework yet. It could include allowing Canadians to live, study, and work in Europe visa free; Canadian businesses access to the European Investment Bank; and countries to form new defense partnerships with the North American nation.

Canada, EULeave a comment

Mark Carney emphasizes international co-operation in wake of Donald Trump’s UN speech

Colin Henderson

The prime minister joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to co-host an international event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Sept. 23, 2026Updated Sept. 24, 20264 min readSave 155 By Tonda MacCharlesOttawa Bureau Chief OTTAWA — In another overt display of multilateral alliances — the third in as many days — Canada’s prime minister demonstrated Wednesday his turn toward other allies and ignored the U.S. president. Mark Carney joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to co-host an international event on the sidelines of the United Nations to rally new funding and commitments for oceanographic research, and … Continue reading Mark Carney emphasizes international co-operation in wake of Donald Trump’s UN speech

Canada, EU, NATO, Ukraine

In the Baltics, NATO Forces Are Trying to Learn the New Way of War

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ As Canadian-led troops in Latvia adapt lessons from the war in Ukraine, a big gap remains Yaroslav Trofimov DAUDZEVA, Latvia—Wearing strips of red tape on their helmets, Danish soldiers stealthily moved through the pine forest and then, unleashing a firestorm, overran a position held by Spanish troops. The Danish mechanized infantry company role-played the enemy in this month’s exercise by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s brigade that has been deployed to protect Latvia from nearby Russia. The Danes started off the previous night by attacking the brigade’s assembly areas with drones launching simulated payloads. Chaos erupted, sleeping soldiers were … Continue reading In the Baltics, NATO Forces Are Trying to Learn the New Way of War

Canada, EU

Carney says Europe, Canada aren’t ‘fair-weather allies’ while rebuking Trump’s tactics

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ CBCThu, September 17, 2026 at 5:52 AM EDT Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments that Canada seeking a deeper relationship with the European Union was “laughable.” Carney told reporters during a news conference on Thursday that a partnership with the EU would make Canada “a better partner” to the U.S., but he insisted that the relationship with the U.S. must respect Canadian independence. “We are looking for partnerships that are complementary, that reinforce our sovereignty,” he said when asked about Trump’s comments. “Canadians are united that nobody is going to tell … Continue reading Carney says Europe, Canada aren’t ‘fair-weather allies’ while rebuking Trump’s tactics

Canada, EU, Geopolitics

EU Proposes Canada Become the Bloc’s First ‘Associate Member’

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ By Jorge Valero, Andrea Palasciano, and Katharina Rosskopf September 16, 2026 at 3:57 AM EDT European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union.  She offered the invitation during her state of the union address in Strasbourg, France, Wednesday, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance.  “In this new world, we must urgently re-imagine our partnerships and build global coalitions for our resilience and democracies,” von der Leyen said. “I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada being the first associate member of the European Union.” Carney warned earlier this … Continue reading EU Proposes Canada Become the Bloc’s First ‘Associate Member’

briefing, Canada, EU

Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU

Colin Henderson

Summary ​ Summary Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring closer economic ties with the European Union, aiming for a new relationship beyond NAFTA. This includes potential membership in the EU’s single market, collaboration on strategic industries like energy and defence, and even visa-free travel for Canadians in Europe. The move is partly a response to perceived economic and political shifts in the United States, particularly under the Trump administration. ​ Summary ​ Summary Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring closer economic ties with the European Union, aiming for a new relationship beyond NAFTA. This includes potential membership in the EU’s … Continue reading Mark Carney’s Audacious Bid to Make Canada an ‘Associate Member’ of the EU

Canada, Economics, EU

EU and Canada plan far-reaching alliance to strengthen partnership

Colin Henderson

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce the plans on Sept. 16 EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds a press conference in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sept. 7, 2026. Photo by Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images The European Union and Canada are working toward a new, all-encompassing relationship that will range from trade to security, as the transatlantic partners seek to build a new alliance to offset the global power politics dominated by the U.S. and China. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the top executive of the EU, is expected … Continue reading EU and Canada plan far-reaching alliance to strengthen partnership

briefing, EU, Europe

Iceland votes on EU

Colin Henderson

Icelanders will decide tomorrow whether to resume talks on joining the EU in a vote that has taken on deeper significance in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s threats in the Arctic. Polls in the tiny island nation — which does not have armed forces —  are almost evenly split.  Supporters believe joining the European bloc could give the country greater protection and boost its economy, while critics worry over sovereignty. The Arctic has emerged as a key battleground between global superpowers: Trump has threatened to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. Meanwhile, China is flexing “its economic muscle … Continue reading Iceland votes on EU

EU, Europe, Geopolitics, US

Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine assistance mission in Germany to another NATO member – Politico

Colin Henderson

Khrystyna Bondarieva ,  Roman Petrenko  — 1 August, 12:08 The Pentagon is stepping down from leading the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), based in Germany, and will hand it over to another NATO member state. Source: Politico; European Pravda Details: According to a US official and three people familiar with the plan, command of SAG-U – which has played a central role in equipping and training Ukrainian troops since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion – will ultimately be taken over by another NATO member. This move means the US will no longer help shape what Ukraine’s future armed forces will look like. Advertisement: … Continue reading Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine assistance mission in Germany to another NATO member – Politico

AI, AI_regulation, Canada, EU, Europe, Frontier_AI, Innovation, US

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal

Colin Henderson

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal European leaders arrived at Évian with a specific grievance: US AI export controls — including the Mythos export restrictions — have exposed European dependence on American cloud, chip, and AI infrastructure. Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez (who acquired Aleph Alpha) framed the session goal as expanding sovereign AI ecosystem partnerships to all G7 nations. The EU AI Act high-risk compliance deadline of 2 August 2026 is six weeks away. New today: CNBC reports that Mythos and GPT-5.5 Cyber export controls have “changed everything” in the transatlantic AI relationship; the G7 AI session … Continue reading AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal