Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, welcomed Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, to Ottawa. The Ministers held a productive bilateral meeting, during which they discussed Canada’s recently-released defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free and Canada-Germany defence relations. The Ministers also discussed our mutual efforts to support Ukraine and our work to strengthen NATO’s defence and deterrence posture, including in the Baltic states, where both Canada and Germany lead multinational NATO battle groups.
Minister Blair today announced that Canada will contribute $76 million to Germany’s Immediate Action on Air Defence (IAAD) initiative in support of Ukraine. This initiative, launched by Germany in April 2024, pools money and resources from the international community to quickly source and deliver air defence systems for Ukraine. These systems will help defend against Russian aerial attacks that have killed thousands of Ukrainians and destroyed hospitals, power plants and apartment blocks.
Ministers Blair and Pistorius highlighted the work Canada and Germany are doing to support the NATO Alliance, including leading NATO battle groups in Latvia and Lithuania, and strengthening NATO’s defence and deterrence measures in Eastern Europe. Both countries are working toward building their battle groups up to full Brigade size.
The Ministers further discussed joint priorities in the lead-up to this summer’s NATO Summit in Washington D.C. and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to continue providing vital military support to Ukraine in the immediate and longer term.
Canada’s contribution to the German IAAD initiative is just one way that Canada and Germany are working together to support Ukraine. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members are currently deployed to Germany as part of the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine, which is helping to facilitate the transfer of aid to Ukraine, working to align future donations with Ukraine’s needs, and planning for the immediate and longer-term training needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Canada and Germany share a strong and cooperative defence relationship and we will continue to deepen our ties as we work to uphold peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.
“Canada and Germany are close NATO Allies, united through our close defence relationship and our commitment to supporting Ukraine. Through Canada’s investment in Germany’s Immediate Action on Air Defence Initiative, we are working together to provide Ukraine with the crucial air defence systems that it needs to protect its people. I thank Minister Pistorius for his strong cooperation, and I thank the German people for their hospitality to Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to the country.” – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence