Associate Situationship

Canada’s making new friends across the pond.

Thursday, Canadian PM Carney addressed the EU Parliament, accepting the 27-country bloc’s invitation to become its first “associate member.” Carney said the alliance will deepen Canada-Europe partnership across trade, defense, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, and financial services. The Great White North, which currently sends ~70% of exports south, aims to boost “collective resilience” against Uncle Sam’s economic and geopolitical pressure.

The new mates are still working out the deets, considering an “associate EU member” doesn’t exactly exist in the EU treaty today.

The budding cross-Atlantic alliance comes amid North American tension: “51st State” talks, billions in tariffs, and renaming Lake Ontario. President Trump expressed skepticism towards the Canada-EU relationship and threatened “very heavy tariffs” on Europe if he deemed a deal to be “hostile.”

Verse to consider whether you’re managing tension in your neighborhood, feeling isolated, or getting excited about budding friendships… “The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:7-10 (CSB) (read full passage)