Canada and Nordic Nations Seek Closer Cooperation as "Middle Powers"

Canada and five Nordic nations have announced that they have agreed to deepen cooperation in defense manufacturing and other sectors.

According to Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Carney has been actively seeking to forge closer ties with China, Middle Eastern nations, as well as India and Europe, in an effort to reduce Canada's reliance on the United States and to establish a trade order led by what he terms "middle powers."

The heads of government from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Canada stated during a meeting in Oslo that they aim to bolster their collective defense, security, and resilience by engaging in closer cooperation regarding defense procurement.

"We agreed that if we spend this money individually—or in an uncoordinated fashion—it will not deliver the value to taxpayers that it should," Carney told reporters following the meeting.

He added: "We will still undertake significant procurement with the United States... but in all instances, we will seek to do more through partnerships. And the range of countries with which we can cooperate is much broader."

The leaders of the six nations also pledged to continue providing economic, civilian, military, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen remarked: "The old world order has vanished, and it is unlikely to return. Therefore, we must build a new order—one that is founded upon the values ​​we represent."