Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand welcomed South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun before a bilateral meeting at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ gathering in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. CTV
Canada and South Korea have signed a new defence agreement aimed at strengthening military and security cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement, signed Wednesday after negotiations wrapped up in October, sets rules for how both nations will exchange and protect classified military and defence information. Officials say the deal will provide a legal foundation for closer collaboration in several areas.
Expanding Defence Ties
Defence Minister David McGuinty called the agreement an important milestone.
“This is an important step for our two countries,” McGuinty said Wednesday. “It’s critical that Canada expands its defense industry, but it’s equally important that we enhance our defense relations around the world, and that’s what today is really all about.”
McGuinty and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback and Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun to finalize the agreement.
Both sides agreed to update their broader strategic partnership to reflect current global conditions. They also committed to begin talks on a wider defence cooperation agreement, which would create a formal framework for military collaboration.
Security and Economy Linked
South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Hyun emphasized the connection between security and economic cooperation.
“We believe that security and economy are very closely linked so our two countries will continue to deepen our economic cooperation,” he said. “In defence, industry and other areas, I hope that we become the closest partners out there.”
Ahn Gyuback described Canada as a key security partner and said both countries will work together to support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and the Arctic.
The agreement follows recent remarks from Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has encouraged middle-sized countries to work together in response to growing global tensions. His government aims to strengthen ties with partners beyond the United States and expand Canada’s export markets.
Anand said that approach reflects practical foreign policy.
“What Canada is doing in this era is coalescing around like-minded countries on initiatives that will grow the domestic economy and advance our security and defense overall,” she said. “This is an era where one cannot separate defense and security, on the one hand, from economic results on the other.”
Submarine Contract in Focus
The timing of the agreement also draws attention because South Korean company Hanwha Oceans competes for a major Canadian contract. Canada plans to purchase up to 12 new submarines in a deal worth billions of dollars.
German manufacturer TKMS also seeks the contract. Anand said the bidding process remains active and free from political interference. Companies are preparing proposals that meet Canada’s technical and design standards.
South Korean officials promoted their country’s submarine technology during Wednesday’s discussions.
“We did talk about the many benefits that we could bring to Canada with our submarines,” Hyun said. “We will be able to deliver two years ahead of Germany.”
Industry Minister Melanie Joly has also worked to expand cooperation with South Korea beyond defence. The federal government recently signed an agreement aimed at attracting South Korean automotive manufacturing to Canada. Canada has also strengthened cooperation with Germany in battery production and critical minerals.
Political Reaction
Conservative defence critic James Bezan criticized the government’s approach.
“What we need is for the Liberal government to listen to our service men and women and buy much-needed equipment quickly, based on what we need to defend ourselves,” Bezan said. “Nearly a year into his term, and Carney has changed the rhetoric, but not the reality of what kit our armed forces have to do their jobs.”
As negotiations continue on broader military cooperation, both Canada and South Korea signal their intention to build a closer and more structured defence partnership.
