Canada and Japan Sign Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Covering Defense, Energy, and Technology

Canada became the first country to meet with Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, since her landslide election victory in February. Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Tokyo on Friday; the two leaders signed a new comprehensive strategic partnership, deepening ties across defense, energy, and technology. On defense, Canada and Japan announced joint naval exercises in the North Pacific, with Japan potentially participating in Canada's Arctic Operation Nanook. Japan imports 87% of its energy and 62% of its food, making Canada's offer to double LNG exports by decade's end particularly significant. On trade, Canada now surpasses the U.S. as Japan's top supplier of wheat and pork, supplying 10% of Japan's total caloric intake. Japan's ambassador noted that continued U.S. market access under CUSMA remains a critical condition for expanded Japanese automotive investment in Canada, where Japanese companies manufacture 70% of all cars produced.