Canada and South Korea to Sign Defence Pact

OTTAWA Canada and South Korea are scheduled to sign a defence agreement on Wednesday, establishing a framework for sharing and safeguarding classified military information, just one month after Prime Minister Mark Carney called on middle powers to collaborate in response to economic pressures from larger nations.

The pact, finalized after negotiations that wrapped up in October, will serve as a legal foundation for enhanced cooperation in areas such as defence procurement, industrial security and joint research efforts, according to statements from Canadian officials last fall. This move aligns with broader efforts to bolster bilateral ties amid evolving global security dynamics.

The agreement comes shortly after Carney's address at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, where he emphasized the need for middle powers to unite against economic coercion by great powers. "American hegemony," Carney said, along with attempts by major nations to dominate smaller ones, poses significant challenges that require collective action. His remarks underscored Canada's interest in forging stronger alliances with like-minded countries to navigate international tensions.