Canada, Germany Sign Intelligence-Sharing Agreement

Joël Lightbound, minister of Public Services and Procurement, participates in Question Peritod in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 15, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Canada and Germany have reached a new agreement governing the exchange of classified information related to defence and security, including intelligence, operational material, and technical data.

The agreement was announced on Sept. 25 and signed on the margins of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s visit to Canada.

Public Services and Procurement Canada says the agreement will create more opportunities for Canadian companies to take part in joint contracts involving classified information, including the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.

The project is an effort by the federal government to strengthen the navy’s underwater capabilities and ensure a sustained presence in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. Ottawa announced on July 6 that German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems had been selected as the preferred supplier for the project.

The information-sharing agreement comes as Germany—Canada’s sixth-largest merchandise trading partner and largest trading partner within the EU—increases defence spending and strengthens its contribution to collective security in Europe, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada.

“This agreement will make Canada safer by improving the protection of sensitive information, strengthening cooperation with one of our closest NATO allies, and enabling more effective coordination on shared security priorities,” Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Joël Lightbound said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said the agreement underscores Canada’s role as a partner in addressing regional and global challenges.

Canada and Germany have cooperated on collective defence and international security since West Germany joined NATO in 1955. Both are also parties to the provisional Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which is pending ratification by all EU member states.

Canada also has established bilateral security instruments with a range of other countries, including Albania, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the UK, and the United States.

These bilateral instruments establish standardized security protocols for handling classified and protected material. This enables Canadian defence and aerospace suppliers to bid on joint contracts and collaborate on multinational military procurement projects involving areas such as naval ship and submarine construction, space technology, and joint research.

Canada also maintains formal security and intelligence-sharing frameworks with international bodies including the European Union, NATO, and the Five Eyes alliance comprising Canada, the United States, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It also has a signed agreement with the European Space Agency that is pending entry into force.