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Update: Canada's Carney Welcomes EU Associate Membership Ambition, Seeks Closer Ties

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(Updates with further Carney comments in the fifth paragraph and Trump comments in the seventh and eighth paragraphs.)

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada welcomes the ambition to become the European Union's first associate member as the country seeks to strengthen its ties with the 27-nation bloc amid growing tensions with the United States.

Carney, speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, said that closer relations with the EU would involve cooperation in areas such as critical minerals, defense, artificial intelligence, energy, financial services, and cultural exchanges like university programs.

However, the Canadian prime minister didn't specify the details of this "unique" alliance.

"Canada welcomes this ambition" to become the EU's first associate member, Carney told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg. This opportunity of "an alliance for the future is unique."

This stronger partnership "is about sovereignty" as Canada and the EU "are stronger together," added Carney.

On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her desire for Canada to become the EU's first associate member.

Late Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that he "will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe" if the EU proposal to make Canada an associate member is intended as "a hostile act."

Trump defined the EU plan for Canada as "laughable" in comments broadcast on news outlets.

EC President von der Leyen stressed Wednesday that the associate membership offer wasn't intended as a measure against other countries.

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