Tuesday August 26, 2025 | BERLIN, GERMANY [Posted at 6:42 am PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today the emphasis on the importance of critical minerals becomes even more evident as Prime Minister Mark Carney continues his trade mission and security talks in Europe with a visit to Germany.
Components of the upscaled critical mineral sector include research and development as well as supply chains and a focus on particular sectors such as EV manufacturing, defence and aerospace.
“Canada has immense potential to be a leading and reliable global supplier of critical minerals, and Canada and Germany are natural strategic partners in this mission. As Germany’s domestic demand for critical minerals grows and it diversifies its supply chains, Canadian workers and industries can be the strong, stable provider of these indispensable resources,” said Carney in a news release today.
Today’s announcement builds on commitments from the 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where leaders announced the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan and welcomed the Critical Minerals Production Alliance.
Carney called the visit “enjoyable and productive”. He said that collective security in defence and supply chains was something Canada, Germany and other NATO partners have committed to finding common solutions.
Making the world more secure and having economic benefits are two planks of Canada’s defence planning and spending, Carney outlined in today’s press conference.
Defence expenditure:
The Canadian defence budget will be quadrupled between Budget 2024 to end of this decade, said Carney today.
Economic sanctions against Russia, supporting the defence of Ukraine, and establishing some robust and credible security guarantees is Carney’s outline.
Canada’s submarine fleet will be renewed, Carney highlighted today. There are two finalists — one in Germany (a German/Norwegian partnership) and one in South Korea.
Driving change:
A need for reinforcing and developing defence systems including a supply of critical metals and minerals has been exposed by COVID, the Ukraine war and global change dynamic, said Carney. He added that Germany has been a leader in critical mineral supply diversification.
Stability and prosperity are new goals, said Carney in Germany today.
Canadian ministers on this trip:
Carney was accompanied on this week’s trip to Germany by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson; Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Mélanie Joly; and Minister of National Defence David McGuinty.
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August 26, 2025 – News Release – Prime Minister’s Office
Canada’s new government has a mandate to strengthen and diversify our international relationships. In the face of a shifting global trade landscape, that mandate has only increased in importance. To that end, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, travelled to Germany to strengthen our trade and commercial ties and build new partnerships in the rapidly growing market for critical minerals.
Earlier this year at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Prime Minister Carney introduced the Critical Minerals Production Alliance – a Canada-led initiative that leverages trusted international partnerships to enhance critical mineral supply chains for collective defence and advanced technology.
Today, in Berlin, Canada and Germany signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to deepen co-operation to secure critical mineral supply chains, increase collaboration on research and development, and co-fund new critical mineral projects that contribute to a range of industries – from electric vehicle manufacturing to defence and aerospace.
To that end, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, announced that Isabella Chan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for the Lands and Minerals Sector at Natural Resources Canada, will serve as Canada’s Special Envoy to advance this partnership, and welcomed the appointment of Matthias Koehler, the German government’s Deputy Director General of Raw Materials Policy, as its Special Envoy for this initiative.
With vast energy and natural resources, Canada has what the world needs to meet the demands of the future. By partnering with Germany, the largest economy in Europe, Canada will boost domestic investment and create higher-paying jobs, while accelerating the clean energy transition and strengthening transatlantic security.
Prime Minister Carney and Chancellor Merz also discussed Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine – underlining that no decisions about Ukraine should be taken without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe should be taken without Europe. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine following this weekend’s meetings in Kyiv with President Zelenskyy, outlining Canada’s recent allocation of $2 billion in military assistance. He echoed that credible security guarantees will be instrumental in creating the conditions for durable, lasting peace. The Prime Minister also underlined the potential for deeper bilateral collaboration between Canada and Germany on liquified natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen, including through the Canada-Germany Energy Partnership. Canada will begin discussions regarding the supply of LNG to German buyers, while advancing co-operation under the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance to develop a transatlantic hydrogen trade corridor that supports the clean energy transition and strengthens energy security.