{"id":168789,"date":"2025-06-08T23:19:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T23:19:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168789\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T23:19:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T23:19:17","slug":"canada-europe-defence-ties-can-link-club-of-countries-says-german-envoy-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/168789\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada-Europe defence ties can link \u2018club of countries,\u2019 says German envoy – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

If Canada decides to buy submarines from Germany, it would mean tightening ties with a \u201cclub of countries\u201d in Europe as it looks to meet NATO defence spending<\/a> goals and face an uncertain world, Germany\u2019s ambassador says.<\/p>\n

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Matthias L\u00fcttenberg, Germany\u2019s ambassador to Canada, sat down with The West Block\u2018s Mercedes Stephenson in an interview airing on Sunday and emphasized the value of working more closely together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s up to the Canadian government to decide which direction they want to go,\u201d\u00a0said L\u00fcttenberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe state of the art submarine that we are offering jointly with Norway, which is built in Germany, is a very good solution for Canadian security, especially when you look at the Arctic.\u201d<\/p>\n

European countries are investing billions into their militaries and Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged that Canada will join the ReArm Europe initiative in the recent throne speech.<\/p>\n

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Germany and Norway have proposed partnering with Canada to procure new submarines \u2014 a project that would give Ottawa earlier access to the vessels and help it meet its NATO spending targets, which aim to get all members of the military alliance spending two per cent of their GDP on defence.<\/p>\n

Canada has long fallen short of that target, but is under renewed pressure to not only meet, but to exceed that target, as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for more military spending.<\/p>\n

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L\u00fcttenberg said buying into the submarine project would symbolize a broader partnership.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only about the submarine, it\u2019s also about entering this club of countries: Norway, Germany, potentially others in Europe are interested to be part of this maritime partnership because it brings much more benefit than just a submarine; because we can jointly innovate, we can develop, we can talk about maintenance, but really have another project which is ongoing with Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is an interesting offer among the NATO allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

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L\u00fcttenberg was asked about timelines specific to when Germany can reach its renewed defence spending targets. He said they already exceed the NATO two per cent mark and are aiming at upwards of three per cent in the coming years, and alluded to the potential for future acts of aggression by Russia.<\/p>\n

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