Canada Formally Applies To Join UK-Led Joint Expeditionary Force

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has formally applied for Canada's membership in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a defence coalition comprising Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. The announcement came during Carney's meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Liverpool.

According to a statement from Canada's Prime Minister's Office, the two leaders discussed strengthening their defence and security partnership. Carney welcomed UK support for Canada's participation in the JEF, which focuses on mutual support, military cooperation and interoperability among members to enhance collective capabilities and maintain readiness for regional security challenges.

Canada's application comes over a decade after the UK previously invited Ottawa to join the initiative. The JEF concept was discussed at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales, but the Canadian government then declined participation.