Ottawa: Canada is moving to strengthen its military and defence industry as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government seeks to reduce the country's dependence on the United States and prepare for growing security challenges in the Arctic.
The government has committed billions of dollars to defence and wants a much larger share of military equipment and services to come from Canadian companies. The plan aims not only to strengthen Canada's armed forces but also to create jobs, develop new technology, and give the country greater control over its defence needs.
The move comes at a sensitive time in relations between Canada and the United States. The two countries remain close military and economic partners, but disagreements over trade and tariffs have created new uncertainty. For Canada, the experience has raised questions about how much it should depend on its largest neighbour for important goods and military equipment.
Carney's government has announced an additional 60 billion Canadian dollars in defence spending over five years. Much of the money is expected to support Canadian businesses involved in areas such as drones, robotics, military equipment, surveillance systems and other advanced technologies.
For years, Canada has relied heavily on American companies for defence procurement. The government now wants to change that balance by encouraging Canadian manufacturers and technology companies to become more important suppliers to the armed forces.
The policy is also closely connected to Canada's growing focus on the Arctic. The country has a vast Arctic territory and coastline, making surveillance and security in the region a major national concern. Climate change is opening parts of the Arctic to greater economic activity, while Russia and other countries are expanding their interest in the region.
Canada therefore wants stronger capabilities to monitor its northern territory and operate in difficult Arctic conditions.
One of the biggest projects is the planned construction of a new fleet of submarines. Canada has selected Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as its preferred supplier for a programme that could eventually involve up to 12 submarines. The project is expected to give the Canadian navy a stronger ability to operate for long periods in northern waters.
Ottawa is also investing heavily in icebreakers. The government has committed more than 11 billion Canadian dollars for six new icebreakers that will be built in Quebec. The vessels are expected to replace aging ships and improve Canada's ability to operate in the Arctic throughout the year.
The country is also turning increasingly toward European defence companies. Sweden's Saab has been selected as the preferred supplier for Canada's future airborne early warning and control aircraft. The programme is expected to involve Canadian production, research and engineering work, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening the country's aerospace sector.
These decisions show that Canada's strategy is not simply about buying more weapons. It is about building a stronger defence industry at home while developing deeper relationships with countries outside North America.
The government hopes the defence programme will create as many as 125,000 well paid jobs over the next decade. It also wants Canadian defence companies to increase their exports and significantly expand their revenues.
The change is partly driven by pressure from NATO. Canada has already reached the alliance's traditional target of spending 2 percent of its economic output on defence. The country has also committed to a much larger long term NATO defence spending goal, which will require substantial additional investment.
However, Canada's defence transformation will not happen quickly. The country still depends heavily on the United States for military technology, equipment, intelligence and continental defence. Replacing American suppliers with Canadian or European alternatives will take years and could cost more.
Despite these challenges, the direction of Canadian policy is becoming clearer.
Carney's government wants Canada to remain a close ally of the United States while becoming less vulnerable to decisions made in Washington. The aim is not to break the longstanding military relationship between the two countries but to give Canada more choices.
The result could be a major change in how Canada approaches national security. Defence spending is increasingly being viewed not only as a military requirement but also as an investment in Canadian industry, technology, jobs and national sovereignty.
As tensions with the United States continue and competition in the Arctic grows, Canada appears determined to build the capacity to protect its interests with greater confidence and independence.