EU, Canada draw closer as transatlantic landscape shifts

The European Union (EU) and Canada moved visibly closer this week, even as Washington pushed back.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed opening the door for Canada to become the European Union's first "associate member," while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney backed a broader alliance with Europe spanning trade, defense, energy and the Arctic.

After US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs over the move, Carney said no country could dictate Canada's international partnerships.

Experts believe that the exchange underscored a broader shift: as Ottawa and Brussels face growing friction with Washington, both are seeking greater strategic room and reshaping a transatlantic relationship long centered on the US.

Pressure from Washington Europe has faced disputes with the United States over tariffs, defense burden-sharing and strategic dependence, while Canada has accelerated efforts to diversify trade and external partnerships amid escalating economic tensions with its southern neighbor.

Trump said that if he considered the EU's proposed arrangement with Canada a "hostile act," the US could impose serious additional tariffs or reduce trade with Europe.

Carney rejected the pressure on Thursday, saying no one could decide what language Canadians speak, what their culture should be or with whom Canada could reach international agreements.

He nevertheless argued that stronger ties with Europe could also make Canada a stronger partner for the US.

Although von der Leyen did not mention the US by name in her State of the Union address, Washington was "present from start to finish," according to Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow of the German Marshall Fund.

Lesser said the symbolism of inviting Carney and proposing associate membership should be viewed against deteriorating US-Canada relations and Europe's efforts to hedge against growing transatlantic uncertainty.

The German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) said that Canada's highly asymmetric economic relationship with the US gives Ottawa a strong incentive to seek Europe as a counterweight.

Reshaping transatlantic ties During her State of the Union address, von der Leyen proposed upgrading EU-Canada relations from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to an "Alliance for the Future," covering technology, defense, energy, cybersecurity and the Arctic.

Carney repeatedly framed closer ties with Europe in terms of sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

He said partnerships should reinforce sovereignty and reduce the ability of any single external power to control markets, constrain strategic choices or threaten territorial integrity.