Canadian Foreign Minister: NATO Has Never Been More Important Than It Is Now
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand stated that the “robust” NATO alliance can withstand criticism from United States President Donald Trump. Furthermore, NATO remains essential for supporting Western security in the face of Russia.
“NATO as a defence alliance committed to collective security has never been more important than it is now,” Anand said, quoted by AFP in an interview in Brussels on Monday (11/5/2026).
Canada’s top diplomat met with counterparts from 27 European Union countries in the latest demonstration of deepening ties amid global turbulence caused by Trump.
Ottawa has strengthened relations with the European Union and other key partners as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to enhance cooperation between “middle powers”.
“The European Union is a very important aspect of Canada’s efforts to diversify trade, and we will continue to build supply chains and trade relationships so that we can double non-US trade over the next 10 years,” she said.
“Ultimately, that should be our goal, because we are seeing a complete change in the global trade order.”
Anand—who also held talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte—rejected the notion that Trump has fatally weakened the 77-year-old defence alliance.
“Absolutely not—NATO is a robust alliance,” she said.
“It is natural for member states to have differing opinions, but the resilience of this organisation means that we come together, have difficult conversations, and emerge from those conversations with a commitment to collective defence and security.”
Trump has shaken the 77-year-old alliance by criticising European allies over their response to his war with Iran. Washington has strained Europe by stating it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany amid a dispute between Trump and Chancellor Friederich Merz.
Anand pointed to areas such as addressing Russian activities in the Arctic as important for NATO’s focus—and a region where her country plays a leading role.
NATO has increased its involvement in the Arctic region as part of a deal with Trump to make him abandon his plans for Denmark’s Greenland territory.
“We need to take a step back and say, what is best for the 32 member states from the perspective of collective security at this time when the global threat environment is changing so rapidly,” she said.
Anand—who co-hosted a conference with the European Union on the repatriation of Ukrainian children deported by Russia—also praised Kyiv’s “resilience” for successfully turning around a dire battlefield situation.
“Ukraine is still managing to maintain its territorial integrity,” she said.
US-led efforts to mediate an end to the Moscow war have largely subsided as Washington has focused on Iran. Anand said that, given statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the United States still has a key role to play.
“President Zelensky himself has said that it is important for the United States to remain at the negotiating table, and that the United States is needed in this negotiation process,” she said.
“Canada’s position has always been the same; we support President Zelensky. His view of what is best for Ukraine is also our view of what is best for Ukraine.”