And this is meant to be really a permanent reorientation so that Canada never again will be held hostage to the deep and permanent trading relationship we have with the US. So this is part of a very broad and deep push uh by a prime minister who's clearly a man in a hurry. He is trying to reposition Canada so that is not as dependent on the whims of an American president.
All of this adds up, Renee, to the fact that Canada is thoroughly disillusioned by its relationship with the US because of US actions and is moving to try to uh gain much greater traction, much greater leverage, much greater maneuverability. This is the first official visit here by a Canadian prime minister here. We are only 25 km away from New Finland and it is because of this proximity.
Here is how the prime minister put it in English on the island. As you have taught us, Mr President, today to be sovereign goes beyond being able to feed, fuel, and defend ourselves. It requires secure access to artificial intelligence, to space, semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy.
And it's in this context inspired by your example that Canada and Europe will build an alliance for the future that will strengthe it's very significant except Canada I think is going to be referring it to its original title alliance for the future because there is no such category as an associate membership membership. There's going to be a another um summit meeting in October between Canada and the U EU to work out the details, but it's essentially a statement that we want much deeper integration that still retains Canadian sovereignty and independence and autonomy, but we want to move much much closer uh to the second largest trading partner, a huge trading block. Two things were actually tasked that day.
Today, based on our discussions, we're strengthening our cooperation in key areas. We've tasked our space agencies and our defense ministries to develop and share common infrastructure, including launch systems and reception facilities. We'll also task, as you said, and this is significant, the regional joint cooperation commission between Atlantic Canada and S.
Pierre Michelon to expand work in a host of priority areas. Yes, fishing, economic growth, energy transition, climate resilience, telecommunications, cables and others. The prime minister and myself also spoke about our uh economics of our bilateral uh relations of all we believe in and the what we want to move forward on in the field of defense in the field of rare earths the critical minerals energy in quantum technology artificial intelligence maritime technology and we need to transform all of this into real projects.
We believe together that our countries are two important independent nations who want to stay independent. We both believe in democracy, in the rule of law, in the respect of international law, in the respect of free and fair commerce and trade. Well, this is what brings Canada, France and Europe together.
And that is why we support uh this future alliance that you named as an associate member state of the EU. I I'm faintly amused that every meeting is every arrangement by the government of Canada is a strategic alliance and a trade agreement. Off the record, they may well be discussing Norway's very distinct arrangement with the EU.
Not a member, but they pay into it. And I think everything that will be asking that will regard will be oh Canada we Canada will say we don't want that we don't want to pay in we don't have to have the regulations but uh we admire the way Norway operates but we feel very strongly about it because we are committed uh free traders uh we do not want to have our hands tied in terms of our ability to cooperate with other countries or jurisdiction. We appreciate that Canada with its trade with the US with its geography with its proximity is of course has a has a an history in trading with the US which is unique.
The only comparison I can make that from a Norwegian perspective that is that is the relationship we had with eur with Europe with our Nordic and European partners. Our trade with the US is fairly limited but every tariff being put on that is limiting trade which is a negative thing. uh deeper ties between NATO allies uh makes those NATO allies stronger uh makes NATO stronger and uh helps to achieve the common goals of uh all NATO members very much the United States uh included uh you know we very strongly believe uh that we are Canada is a is a better partner if we're our economy is stronger uh if we're more independent we're more resilient uh we have a a deeper web of ties around the world.
Those are all positive things. First and foremost, they benefit Canadians, but they benefit all of our partners uh if we're stronger. It's hard for me to make a judgment on how an American president will judge this, but I will take the point of departure that we are making the Arctic more secure.
We are taking the real challenges coming out of the geopolitical changes in the Arctic seriously, environmental and climate change seriously, industrial opportunities from critical raw materials and energy seriously and Canada and Norway are serious and pragmatic nations and we demonstrate that we move forward. And as the prime minister said, a large part of this is following up NATO decisions at summits where we have all attended. So I cannot fantasize about that being hostile to anybody.
To the contrary, I think the seven Arctic states including the US inside NATO have made huge progress on putting the Arctic on the NATO agenda. Washington did answer. The president's statement was, "If there's no hostile intent, it's okay with me.
If there is hostile intent, I will take action, including cutting off all trade with Europe, which is an impossibility. " So it's it's a way for the US president to weigh in saying you trying to move away from us. We're going to take action if you do if it's in any way enimical to what he defines as US interest.
So let me say how I see it and um let me keep it to what we can check. The claim this week was big. A permanent reorientation so that Canada is never again held hostage.
That is not our sentence. it is an analysts on Canadian television and uh he said it plainly. What I find useful is that the same analyst did not sell it.
He said he is faintly amused that every meeting by the government of Canada becomes a strategic alliance and um a trade agreement. That is a fair thing to say and it is in this video in full. So look past the labels at what was actually tasked.
two space agencies and two defense ministries told to develop and share common infrastructure including uh launch systems. A regional commission between Atlantic Canada and a French island 25 commilators from Newfoundland told to expand work on fishing, energy, climate and um undersea cables. Those are instructions not adjectives.
The second thing I would hold on to is the shape of the offer. France said the two countries are independent nations who want to stay independent. The prime minister said Canada is a better partner when its economy is stronger.
Norway's leader said he cannot imagine this being hostile to anybody and uh pointed out that seven Arctic states including the United States sit inside the same alliance. And notice what Norway also admitted. Its trade with the United States is fairly limited.
Canada's is not. So Norway's arrangement is admired, not copied. And um Canada says it will not pay in.
What is likely over the coming weeks is slower than the headlines. Watch for two things. Whether the October summit produces text rather than a name, and whether anything from the space and defense tasking shows up as a contract.
And that leaves me one question. If the word permanent is doing the heavy lifting here, what would convince you it is permanent?
