In a move that marks a noticeable distancing from its traditional southern partner, Canada has selected the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the preferred supplier for the construction of a new fleet of submarines. This historic contract cements the security ties between Ottawa and the European continent, at a time when diplomatic and military relations with the United States are going through a period of uncertainty.
The announcement was made by the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. TKMS has outpaced the South Korean conglomerate Hanwha in the race to deliver 12 diesel-electric submarines with a capacity of approximately 3,000 tons, specially designed to operate in the harsh climatic conditions of the Arctic region. The first four units are scheduled for delivery by 2034.
Washington’s Breakup and Canada’s “Rearmament”
Understanding is the central pillar of the most extensive program of modernization of the Canadian armed forces since the end of the Second World War. The geopolitical context is directly marked by the statements of the American president Donald Trump, who previously suggested the possibility of reducing security guarantees for NATO allies who do not fulfill their financial obligations.
In response to pressures from the White House, the government led by Mark Carney has adopted radical measures. Ottawa has committed to reaching a record level of 5% of GDP by 2035, after last year it reached the minimum threshold required by NATO, of 2%.
In addition, Canada is currently reviewing its contract signed in 2023 for the purchase of 88 American F-35 fighter jets, considering replacing them with Swedish Gripen aircraft, produced by Saab.
Although defense analysts note that the South Korean offer would have ensured faster delivery times and potentially lower costs, the political and security criterion prevailed. Officials in Ottawa emphasized that Germany’s NATO membership guarantees long-term strategic integration.
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