Canada Applies for Joint Expeditionary Force in UK Summit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with British leadership in Liverpool on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral ties across defense, trade, and artificial intelligence. During the summit, Canada formally applied for full membership in the Joint Expeditionary Force, a U.K.-led military coalition of 10 NATO allies. The Government of the United Kingdom expressed support for the bid as Canada seeks to diversify its defense ties away from the United States amid ongoing trade tensions.

The two nations are negotiating a merger of their respective defense financing initiatives—Canada's proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank and the U.K.'s Multilateral Defence Mechanism—into a single joint institution. Additionally, the leaders discussed the Global Combat Air Programme, an advanced fighter jet project that Canada joined as the first observer nation in July 2026.

On the technology front, the leaders agreed that governments and the private sector must collaborate to mitigate AI risks and ensure online safety. This comes as both nations lack dedicated AI laws; Canada's Artificial Intelligence and Data Act lapsed in January 2025, while the U.K. maintains a sector-led, pro-innovation approach. Other agreements included a plan for London to spend approximately $18.7 million through 2031 to modernize the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Alberta.

Following their diplomatic discussions, the leaders attended a Carabao Cup match between Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Everton won 1-0.