“We will initiate measures to commence negotiations on a Defence Cooperation Agreement, including a legal framework to improve interoperability, and to facilitate cooperative activities between both countries. Within this agreement, we will also continue strengthening cooperation on defence science, technology, and materiel, including through established defence cooperation frameworks.”
The Canadian Government continues to deepen Canada’s ties with other democratic nations, as the country seeks to reduce dependence on the United States. Today, Canada and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) announced negotiations to conclude a Defence Cooperation Agreement. The announcement was made as part of a broader statement on Canada-ROK relations. Below is what the statement said about the defence partnership between the two nations:
“Having launched the new Canada-ROK Security and Defence Cooperation Partnership (SDCP) in October 2025, we commit to expanding and strengthening our security and defence cooperation to address evolving traditional and emerging threats. The implementation of this landmark agreement will be guided by a new SDCP Action Plan to ensure the materialization of these commitments.
“In this context, the governments of Canada and the ROK have signed the Agreement on the Protection of Military and Defence Classified Information, which will strengthen our mutual engagement through support for cooperative defence relationships, and the expansion of markets and by enhancing industry competitiveness for defence contractors in both countries.
“We will enhance operational cooperation through expanded bilateral and multilateral exercises and sign the Terms of Reference on regular Air Force Staff Talks in 2026, complementing the Navy, Army, Space and Strategic Policy talks already underway. We will advance our shared priorities in the area of maritime security and defending the rules-based maritime system, in accordance with international law, including working together to uphold UNCLOS.
“We will initiate measures to commence negotiations on a Defence Cooperation Agreement, including a legal framework to improve interoperability, and to facilitate cooperative activities between both countries. . Within this agreement, we will also continue strengthening cooperation on defence science, technology, and materiel, including through established defence cooperation frameworks.
“Canada values the ROK’s deepening engagement with NATO as a trusted partner and looks forward to continued collaboration on shared security priorities across both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions.”
The governments also signed an agreement “on the Protection of Military and Defence Classified Information.”
A strong partner for Canada
Canada can learn much from South Korea. With a relatively similar population and GDP to Canada, South Korea is a military powerhouse, with a strong domestic defence sector capable of producing tanks, self-propelled armoured vehicles, ships, submarines, fighter aircraft, and more. With the threat of North Korea always looming, South Korea has honed its defence sector into an efficient producer of high-quality equipment, both for its own domestic needs and for export. At a time when Canada needs new defence industry partners and needs to build up our domestic defence industrial base, South Korea can be a big help. And given our need for large amounts of new military equipment, Canada can be a great customer for South Korea. Thus, this is a good step for the government to take.
You can read the full joint statement here.
Spencer Fernando
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