Germany Seeks Canadian Submarine Deal as Defense Cooperation Deepens Amid Transatlantic Strains

Berlin: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is set to begin a five-day official visit to Canada on Tuesday, with efforts expected to focus on strengthening defense cooperation and promoting a major submarine procurement proposal involving German industry.

A key objective of the visit is to encourage Ottawa to consider awarding a contract for the construction of 12 submarines to German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), according to official expectations surrounding the trip.

The diplomatic engagement comes as several European Union countries, including Germany, have increasingly sought closer defense ties with Canada amid reported strains in transatlantic relations during U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

Earlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney became the first non-European leader to attend a European Political Community (EPC) defense summit, reflecting growing security dialogue between Ottawa and European partners.

In a related development, Pistorius announced on Monday that he had canceled a planned visit to Washington that was scheduled to follow his Canada trip. German media reports indicated that the decision was made after it became clear that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would not be present in Washington, making a bilateral meeting unlikely.

The shifting schedule underscores evolving defense priorities as Germany and Canada explore deeper industrial and strategic cooperation within a changing global security landscape.