My condolences, my personal condolences and those of the Canadian people to the people of Norway on the passing of King Harald V. You gave me the honor of meeting him and the new king. King Harald was a unifying and a truly inspirational figure, and I'm confident that his legacy will continue to be built upon for generations.
We reviewed Canadian Armed Forces. I was particularly paying attention to the Canadian Armed Forces personnel alongside their Norwegian, German, and other counterparts. That cooperation, this cooperation we saw there, continues with our coast guards now training together in Canadian and Norwegian waters, a series of efforts to improve across all our capacities, our interoperability, and strengthening them alongside each other.
Our cooperation since we met in Norway has also led to the start of an unprecedented reinforcement of Canada's maritime capabilities in the largest defense procurement in Canadian history. TKMS will build Canada's next fleet of submarines and in the process do much more, in the process deepen our military, industrial and technological cooperation between Norway, Canada and Germany. Cooperation, I'll say to Canadians, that will yield tens of billions of dollars in new investment in every region of this country, creating an ecosystem that will create more than 100,000 high-paying Canadian jobs. So that's the start of what we had earlier this year. We're building on that momentum today.
Deepening our cooperation, for example, in Arctic science and research, developing a joint research agenda roadmap on climate data research, security, knowledge sharing. As part of this initiative, Polar Knowledge Canada and the Norwegian Polar Institute are developing an agreement on both Arctic and Antarctic research. On defense, we will be, once the submarine contract is concluded, we'll pursue an enhanced defense cooperation agreement at the level, this is the way Canada views it, at the level of our closest security partners because that's what we are. This will advance our military-industrial and technological cooperation, bringing together what in many cases are unique capabilities for the purpose of our collective security and prosperity.
On space, our space agencies have finalized a new memorandum of understanding to improve coordination and information sharing, advanced space-based technologies, including, again, you guessed it, to reinforce Arctic security in the Arctic and the high north. In parallel, Norway's Kongsberg is partnering with Canada's MDA Space and Telesat to help us better track in Arctic waters and improve secure communications in the high north. And on critical minerals, we're moving from our agreement in March to launch new geoscience projects, combining data and expertise to identify critical mineral potential and move towards production.
And finally, on ocean conservation, we're strengthening our ocean observation systems and the supporting infrastructure to improve forecasting, early warning, and of course to protect our oceans and marine life. And in New York in a few days, through the Ocean International Alliance, we'll continue to advance sustained ocean observation and protection.
Well, thank you, Prime Minister. Thank you, dear Mark. It sometimes happens in history that friends can make great steps forward because things come together. Everything the prime minister has said, I will simply say this is a correct account of a relationship which is moving forward and deeper. And I believe that the increased geopolitical focus on the Arctic is challenging and providing opportunities for Arctic states like Norway and Canada to come together. And since we are both pragmatic states, we have pragmatic governments and I believe pragmatic prime ministers, we are making progress fast.
Thank you, Prime Minister, for referring to His Majesty King Harald when we met him in March. It was at Holmenkollen when he was sitting for yet another hour of observing Norwegian and international skiers. And I think we saw why Norwegians were so fond of His Majesty. You were there. I appreciated that. Since then, we have signed agreements on how to move forward. And today, you have seen four pages summing up where we are right now. And I can hardly think of any bilateral partnership which is moving forward at the pace we do now with Canada, Norway. So we do it with an Arctic perspective of securing stability, low tension and peace in the Arctic, which means that we have to look after security in new ways. So what we do on defense, on capabilities, on having exchange between our military but also between planners and industry and moving forward on polar research. All of that comes together as very important.
The submarine agreement from this summer and the intention of Canada to join Norway and Germany is the biggest contract in Canada but will also have huge implications on our potential industrial cooperation and we look forward to that. Space is also developing as an important part for industrial activity, also for our defense capabilities, and since we are both located in the north, we know that northern location gives opportunities for space which are unique. So our space authorities will also work together. I have invited Canada to a space summit in Norway in February where I hope to see Canadian representation. And then there is energy, Prime Minister, where I think also Canada's development of its energy resources ranging from oil and gas to wind is another illustration of our industries coming together.
We will now begin our press conference. Please state your name and outlet.
Thank you, Melie. My name is Anders. I'm with the Norwegian Public Broadcasting, NRK. Mr. Carney, Canada under your leadership are meeting US tariffs by imposing the same on their goods. Is that a tactic that you would advise countries like Norway to follow in dealing with US President Trump? And if I may, what can you do to repair the relationship as long as Trump is in office? And Mr. Støre, what can you learn from your Canadian counterpart in how to deal with the current US president and being here in Canada? If possible, please answer in English and French.
I got very worried. It'd be a very short answer in Norwegian if I were giving it in... Well, look, these bilateral trading relationships, particularly with the United States, which is in the process of changing all of its trading relationships, they're unique. Each of them are unique. There's a common thread, which is the US, and this I'm going to use their term, which is they charge for access to their market, either with a tariff, sometimes with a tariff and other domestic policy changes, sometimes with a tariff, domestic policy changes and investment commitments into the United States. That's the language they use. It depends on the overall relationship and it also depends on the other options that countries have. So I wouldn't give advice to others in terms of how to behave, in part because we start from a different situation than most countries in that there's talk of having a deal. Well, we have a deal with the United States. We actually have a deal. It's called CUSMA, Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement. And these actions are not consistent with that deal. So we start from a different position. Of course, we have to recognize, the prime minister used a moment ago the term pragmatic. We have to be pragmatic and recognize realities. But our response reflects several things. One is the fact that we have a deal. Point one. Point two is where we need to take action to protect Canadian workers and businesses. So sometimes the tariffs that we're responding to, American tariffs, are to ensure that our market is not flooded with American goods that are coming in tariff-free while Canadian goods are locked out of the US market and being very clear about what our bottom lines are with the United States in terms of issues which we've had which are relatively unique, I believe, versus the US in terms of language, culture.
The next point I'm going to make is less unique, but we feel very strongly about it because we are committed free traders. We do not want to have our hands tied in terms of our ability to cooperate with other countries or jurisdictions. So that's a clear aspect there. And then some very specific things. The other element of your question, which is in terms of cooperation with the US, look, we continue to cooperate with the US on a variety of issues, not every issue, but geopolitical issues, other aspects where we're working with them to try to find solutions, and we would expect to continue, and continues to be the case in defense and security, of course, that we cooperate closely.
Well, let me start by saying that the change came by the unilateral decisions by the US to start to use tariffs also politically against those who trade with the US, as a contrast to decades where tariffs were built down to the benefit of all participating in trade. We believe there are differences, as the prime minister said, we have to understand every point of departure. We appreciate that Canada, with its trade with the US, with its geography, with its proximity, of course has a history in trading with the US which is unique. The only comparison I can make from a Norwegian perspective is the relationship we had with Europe, with our Nordic and European partners. Our trade with the US is fairly limited. But every tariff being put on that is limiting trade, which is a negative thing. We are now in the process of dialogue with the US who are considering new potential tariffs. We don't want that to happen and we will keep that dialogue, I think, aimed at limiting the damage that can do to trade. And then I think, you know, we have to continue as we did with the bilateral relationship also to raise the issue of trade at the global level.
So I'll be quicker in English. Look, I think the important thing, and it is the nature of the job, is I can do both, and I need to do both. If I start domestically, if you look at more than 16 bills that went through parliament over the last session, of everything from major tax changes to six bills to protect the security of our communities, the groceries and essentials benefit, the reductions in petrol prices, gas prices taken here. So a focus there. The core of our agenda is to build Canada strong. The next phase of that will be legislation we will introduce this week. We've given notice of this, in our view the most consequential economic legislation certainly of this parliamentary session, arguably over the course of the next few years. But yes, on a Sunday morning instead of getting up, having a little bit of exercise and a brunch and spending time with my family, yes, I went and met with the president of France to discuss some of the major issues in the globe, to advance our cooperation in artificial intelligence, in space, in energy, and to prepare for the meeting that I will go to, and I'm almost finished, tomorrow evening, the start of the UN General Assembly, after I swear in three new, I'm part of swearing in three new deputies to parliament, participating in question period and being part of the introduction of legislation. You can do both. I have to do both and I am doing both.
Next question.
Hi, Matia from TV2 Norway. President Trump said that he could consider deeper ties between EU and Canada a hostile act and imposed tariffs. Are you worried? This is a question for both of you, that he could consider deeper ties between Norway and Canada a hostile act.
I'll start in English and quickly. Deeper ties between NATO allies makes those NATO allies stronger, makes NATO stronger, and helps to achieve the common goals of all NATO members, very much the United States included. You know, we very strongly believe that Canada is a better partner if our economy is stronger, if we're more independent, we're more resilient, we have a deeper web of ties around the world. Those are all positive things. First and foremost, they benefit Canadians, but they benefit all of our partners if we're stronger. So this is how we see it.
It's hard for me to make a judgment on how an American president will judge this, but I will take the point of departure that we are making the Arctic more secure. We are taking the real challenges coming out of the geopolitical changes in the Arctic seriously, environmental and climate change seriously, industrial opportunities from critical raw materials and energy seriously. And Canada and Norway are serious and pragmatic nations and we demonstrate that we move forward. And as the prime minister said, a large part of this is following up NATO decisions at summits where we have all attended. So I cannot fantasize about that being hostile to anybody. To the contrary, I think the seven Arctic states, including the US inside NATO, have made huge progress on putting the Arctic on the NATO agenda in a very operational way and we continue to do it that way.
Daniel Ces, last question.
Good evening, prime ministers. Noah Walker with CTV News. Thank you both for taking our questions. It's for both of you. Late last week, the Polish prime minister warned that there could be an increase or new Russian drone attacks on other NATO countries. I'm wondering if you both see those threats as credible, and if so, is there an expectation that US President Donald Trump may intervene and try and quell those because of his relationship with Putin?
I think Prime Minister Tusk's warning should be taken seriously because countries who border Russia like that, they make experiences every week. We have in our open assessments of intelligence threats against Norway that there are real threats coming from hybrid activity ranging all the way to potential sabotage. So we have to have awareness about that in our way of looking after our security. Our industry, our economic operators have to be aware of it. Our research institutions, everybody who is operating on the net and who have data security have to be aware. We are, but I would add that let not that become a frenzy that you see that threat at every corner because sometimes it may be played up in a way which is not corresponding with realities. But I know the Polish prime minister as a knowledgeable person about this and we should have high awareness and warn about it when necessary.
I associate myself with everything the prime minister just said and I'll just add the following points. You know, one of the advantages of this relationship and deepening our across a broad range of relationships is yes, greater intelligence sharing, greater perspective, greater capacities that are built together. And I want to just conclude by drawing together a number of things we've said we've been working on, including earlier this year. And the prime minister has thought deeply and acted pragmatically and effectively on these issues for years. And if I may, the phrase that always sticks with me that you developed is high north, low tension. Okay. So how do you accomplish that in the high north? Some of its capacities, our submarines, our joint work on space, a series of capacities that we need to develop. Much of it is the next phase is partners, the right partners, the seven Arctic nations as prime minister just referenced.
Another is understanding the connections, which is something that again the prime minister has helped move NATO on this, but NATO perhaps underappreciated, which is the western flank or the importance of the Arctic and the connection of that down through the Baltic and into the more traditional flank. So the connections there, and you see where Bardiffus, the role that Chancellor Mertz played. I'm using that as an illustration. It's much more broad than that, of course. And so the link in, and so if you look at Canada's deployment or strategy where we're putting our efforts, yes, we have troops on the front line in Latvia and we lead that NATO brigade there, 15 or so NATO nations that participate in that. So the Baltic element, we work closely in deepening these partnerships, which is crucial, which is why to go back to the earlier question about the time spent, whether it's in the high north in Norway, a meeting with the French president who's directly implicated in a number of these decisions, our meeting today and beyond, it's all connected. And then very importantly, it's the capacities that we, as we, I'll speak only for Canada, that we need to build up. We need to build that submarine capacity. We need to develop cutting edge space capacity. Both of us within 48 hours, probably 24 hours, sat down for quite detailed discussions with the Ukrainian president and his team to also help build that capacity for them in their war, but also for ourselves in our protection and then to build beyond that. So it does all connect. I'll leave the comments about the specific threat, but I just wanted you there. There's a reason for all of these initiatives. They are connected. And if you want to work closely with partners on issues of the greatest sensitivity and importance for your citizens, literally life and death ultimately issues, it's a good thing to meet and speak directly about it. The fact of doing that means there will be lower tension and ultimately low tension in the high north because of the capacities are being developed.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, prime ministers. That concludes our press conference.
