In the Canadian capital, Ottawa, on Monday, the defense ministers of Norway and Germany, Tore Sandvik and Boris Pistorius , received military honors from their Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, at the start of what might informally be described as a sales presentation.
Sandvik and Pistorius want to convince the Canadians to join a German–Norwegian project that has been running since 2023, to procure standardized, modern submarines. They hope to secure an order from Canada of up to 12 units over the next 10 years.
This would provide a significant boost to the German and Norwegian companies that are building these submarines. As McGuinty pointed out, if Canada came on board, production numbers could be substantially increased, and this would reduce the cost of each submarine.
The German delegation believes that going into partnership on submarine construction would clearly signal a strengthening of North Atlantic naval cooperation. Last year, Germany, Norway, and Canada formally established a maritime security partnership, which Denmark also joined this year.
A new Cold War
After the end of the Cold War, submarines in the Atlantic were no longer considered a priority, and Germany drastically reduced its fleet.
However, with Russia once again regarded as a significant threat in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic, the submarine fleet is growing. And the emphasis is not just on submarines. German defense minister Pistorius said that northern NATO countries were strengthening their commitment to protect critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables and offshore wind farms, and detect Russian submarines in the North Atlantic.
“Russia’s ambition will not stop in eastern Ukraine or at the eastern flank,” he said. “The civilian and military lines of communication across the North Atlantic are vitally important […] for our economy and our defense alliance with Canada and the United States.”
Tracking Russian submarines from Iceland
The German navy is to increase its presence, with more ships in the waters around the Arctic Circle. Special P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, which can detect submarines over great distances, will be deployed more frequently from Iceland.
Pistorius co-signed a declaration of intent to this effect while on a brief visit to Reykjavik on Sunday, with Iceland’s foreign minister, Katrin Gunnarsdottir.
The US navy operates the large Keflavik base in Iceland, from which the North Atlantic is monitored. Various NATO countries send reconnaissance aircraft to Keflavik, in rotation. The US shut down the base in 2006, but reopened it in 2016 in view of the growing threat from Russia.
Although Iceland is a member of NATO, it does not have a military of its own, so any external support is very welcome. In return, it provides logistical assistance at its ports, accommodation, and training grounds for German soldiers.
Rare earths as well as defense
During the talks in Canada, Pistorius also pushed for an expansion of the strategic and economic partnership. This partnership was only formalized in August, when the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney was in Berlin to meet with the German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Canada could, for example, export more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Europe. Germany is keen to reciprocate by assisting with the exploration and extraction of coveted rare earth elements.
These metals are needed primarily for high-end electronics and microchips. At the meeting in Ottawa, the Canadian side commented that its European allies were keen to reduce their dependence on China — and the United States.
US President Donald Trump has imposed high tariffs on Canadian imports. Until recently, the US was by far the largest customer for Canada’s goods and raw materials, accounting for 75% of its volume of trade. That is now starting to change. Canadian diplomats say Canada will be focusing more on Europe in future.
Is the Bundeswehr overextended?
When asked by a journalist whether the German Bundeswehr (armed forces) risks becoming overextended, with so many foreign commitments — in Lithuania, the Baltic Sea, Canada, and Iceland — Pistorius responded with a smile. This, he said, was “a typically German question.” He pointed out that Germany was the largest NATO country in Europe, and, as such: “We have to bear more of the burden. We have to demonstrate that.”
Pistorius explained that the Bundeswehr can’t be everywhere. It has to prioritize. “Just as other NATO countries focus more on the south — the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, or North Africa — we are focused on the Baltic Sea, the Baltic region, the eastern flank, and the Nordic countries.”
He then affirmed that: “We will be in a position to manage all this with our current personnel, and the personnel we will add in future.”
No decision yet
Following the talks in Ottawa, Canada still has not made a decision about joining the submarine project with Germany and Norway. In the coming days, the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, is due to travel to South Korea, where he will be met with another big sales presentation. South Korea is also keen to secure an order for 12 new submarines from Canada.
After a long day of negotiations, Canadian defense minister McGuinty addressed his German and Norwegian counterparts, but without going into specifics. “This partnership is active, it is evolving. It is vital to addressing today’s global challenges,” he said.
German defense minister Pistorius said only: “It’s looking hopeful.”
This article has been translated from German.
