Canada Eyes German-Norwegian Submarine Deal After Joint Sales Pitch

Canada Considers Joining German-Norwegian Submarine Project OTTAWA, CANADA - October 21, 2025 - Defense ministers from Norway and Germany made a sales pitch to their Canadian counterpart on Monday, seeking to convince Canada to join their submarine procurement project. The proposal involves purchasing up to 12 standardized, modern submarines over the next decade. According to sources, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met with Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty at a ceremony in Ottawa. During the meeting, they emphasized the benefits of joining their project, which has been ongoing since 2023. "This partnership would not only strengthen our naval cooperation but also provide an opportunity for Canada to acquire state-of-the-art submarines," said Sandvik. "We believe that by working together, we can increase production numbers and reduce costs." McGuinty acknowledged the potential benefits of joining the project, stating, "If we were to join this partnership, it would allow us to take advantage of economies of scale and potentially reduce the cost per submarine." The German-Norwegian submarine project has been in development since 2023, with the goal of creating standardized vessels that can be easily maintained and upgraded. The submarines are designed for a range of tasks, including anti-submarine warfare and mine countermeasures. In 2024, Germany, Norway, and Canada established a maritime security partnership, which aims to enhance cooperation on defense and security issues in the North Atlantic region. Joining this project would be seen as a significant step forward in strengthening these ties. Industry experts believe that if Canada were to join the project, it could have far-reaching implications for the country's naval capabilities. "This is an opportunity for Canada to modernize its submarine fleet and take advantage of cutting-edge technology," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a defense analyst at the Canadian Defense Institute. The current status of the proposal remains uncertain, with officials from all three countries declining to comment on the specifics of their discussions. However, sources close to the negotiations suggest that the Canadian government is seriously considering joining the project. As the talks continue, one thing is clear: the potential for Canada to join the German-Norwegian submarine project has significant implications for the country's defense capabilities and its role in North Atlantic naval cooperation. *Reporting by Dw.*