Canada has formally applied to join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) military coalition, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced following high-level bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Meeting during an official visit to the UK on Wednesday, both prime ministers underscored the historic ties and shared values underpinning bilateral relations, pointing to an expanding defence and security partnership between Ottawa and London.
Carney confirmed that Canada has submitted its formal application to enter the rapid-response military coalition, welcoming the British government's backing for Canadian membership in the force — a grouping of 10 North Atlantic NATO member states and a rapid response military partnership.
The JEF comprises Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The two leaders also examined avenues for deeper defence industrial collaboration through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which Canada joined as an observer in July 2026 to cooperate on next-generation combat air capabilities.
In addition, Ottawa and London are continuing to work toward a new permanent agreement to modernise the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) via the BATUS Future Project.
The initiative is designed to showcase Canadian Forces Base Suffield as an advanced, world-class testing ground and developmental hub for next-generation military hardware and cutting-edge operational technology.
Beyond military and defence integration, Carney and Burnham highlighted the strategic importance of expanding economic ties.
Looking ahead, both leaders agreed to deepen bilateral work across frontier technologies, prioritising the safe, responsible development and deployment of artificial intelligence systems while pledging to maintain close contact.
