The leaders of Canada and the European Union reiterated on Friday (24 November) sturdy assist for Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russia’s invasion, whereas pledging to deepen coordination on local weather efforts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel at a summit in Canada’s easternmost metropolis, St. John’s.
“We are going to stand with Ukraine for so long as it takes,” the 2 sides stated in an announcement, pledging to “work to deal with Ukraine’s instant army and protection wants and guarantee Ukraine has the long-term safety commitments wanted.”
Trudeau introduced that Canada would donate 11,000 assault rifles to Ukraine together with 9 million rounds of ammunition.
For the reason that Russian invasion started in February 2022, Canada has pledged Can$2.4 billion (€1.645 billion) in army help to Ukraine.
Michel additionally stated that the EU was “able to do extra within the weeks to return.”
The bulletins come as america, Ukraine’s greatest army backer by far, has been unable to move extra funding by Congress amid political impasse.
Von der Leyen praised Canada as having backed Ukraine even earlier than the conflict.
She cited Canadian packages to coach the army in pro-Western Ukraine and stated this had been key in preventing the invasion.
Von der Leyen stated the EU has now educated 30,000 Ukrainian troops out of its purpose of 40,000, and that the bloc will quickly disclose what it plans to do with Russian property it has seized in response to the invasion.
Canada mineral wealth
The European leaders additionally expressed curiosity in Canada’s wealthy mineral sources, particularly these utilized in electrical automobile batteries, with Von der Leyen inviting Canada to hitch a “important uncooked materials membership” the EU plans to launch at subsequent week’s COP28 summit within the United Arab Emirates.
The previous German protection minister described Canada as “the one nation within the Western Hemisphere with all of the uncooked supplies required for lithium batteries.”
The leaders additionally introduced the creation of a Canada-EU Inexperienced Alliance to strengthen cooperation within the combat in opposition to local weather change, notably with regard to carbon markets and inexperienced hydrogen.
Trudeau, who thanked the EU for its assist throughout Canada’s “worst wildfire season on document” over the summer time, additionally introduced the sale of a number of firefighting planes to Europe.
The EU leaders in the meantime raised the Inflation Discount Act (IRA), US President Joe Biden’s signature local weather and social spending legislation handed final yr.
The bundle offers some $370 billion in investments to fight local weather change, primarily within the type of incentives and subsidies for initiatives in america.
European leaders have apprehensive EU-based power and auto corporations might be shut out or transfer to america because of the IRA’s provisions requiring elements to be sourced domestically or amongst Washington’s free-trade companions, akin to Canada.
“We mentioned the implications for Canada, for the EU, of this IRA put in place by america,” Michel stated.
He reiterated the necessity for the G7 to develop a aggressive mannequin based mostly on a “stage” enjoying subject.
The final EU-Canada summit was held in Brussels in June 2021.
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