TOKYO – Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair announced on September 13 that Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded version of the AUKUS security pact, which currently includes the US, Britain, and Australia. The AUKUS alliance was originally established to counter China’s growing military influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Canada is particularly interested in participating in the second pillar of AUKUS, which focuses on collaboration on advanced military technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. However, specific details regarding Canada’s potential involvement in these areas have not yet been disclosed.
“There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nations, including Japan and ourselves, might participate,” Blair said in an interview in Tokyo, where he met with Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara. Blair expressed optimism about the outcome of these discussions.
The initial phase of AUKUS centers around nuclear submarine technology for Australia, with the current focus of the alliance primarily on this area. Canada’s potential role in AUKUS would likely involve contributions to the technological advancements and strategic collaboration envisioned in the expanded framework.
Blair’s visit to Japan follows his trip to South Korea, which is also exploring a role in AUKUS. Canada is seeking to enhance its security presence in Asia and has prioritized strengthening ties with Japan and South Korea. In line with this, Canada is significantly increasing its defense budget, with plans for a 27% rise next year and a tripling of defense spending over the next three to four years.
Blair and Kihara also discussed Chinese military incursions into Japanese territory, which have led to diplomatic protests from Tokyo. These concerns may be addressed at the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) defense ministers meeting in Italy in October. Blair noted that this meeting would provide an important platform for G7 partners to discuss troubling activities in the region and coordinate their responses.