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Or sign-in if you have an account.Defence Minister David McGuinty attends a meeting with Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi at the Ministry of Defence in Tokyo on June 24, 2026. Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP via Getty ImagesCanada plans to send warships to the Indo-Pacific in two deployments this year, its defence minister said, part of a move to deepen military ties with regional allies even as Ottawa also endeavors to build closer trade relations with China.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Accountor“We are strengthening our presence here with Japan; with Korea; with the Philippines. But we’re also — with discipline — managing our relationship with China,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg.Canadian naval vessels will arrive in the Indo-Pacific region in August and November for exercises that will also include port calls in Japan, McGuinty said during a visit to Tokyo as the head of a defence trade delegation consisting of 175 organizations and some 300 representatives.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThree agreements to pursue defence cooperation between Japanese and Canadian companies are scheduled to be signed on Thursday, according to a member of the delegation.“We’ve got a long relationship here, but we want to build on it more deeply, more widely,” McGuinty said. “Under the defense sphere we’re looking for high-end research, artificial intelligence, quantum, cryptography — where Canada and Japan both excel. We’re looking at engineering, design, maritime systems.”Japan is also looking for partners to help bulk up its defence sector and recently removed most restrictions on defense exports. It has already secured a deal with Australia for the sale of advanced Mogami-class frigates. Earlier this week, McGuinty toured one of the same class of frigates at a Japanese naval base south of Tokyo.The push from Canada to deepen defence ties with Japan comes as it seeks both defence and trade partners beyond North America, given a turbulent relationship with the U.S. since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to power.Prime Minister Mark Carney has been blunt about wanting to spend a smaller proportion of Canada’s military budget on U.S. equipment, after Trump slapped tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly said the country should be a 51st U.S. state. Soon after he was sworn in last year, Carney launched a review of Canada’s contract to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp.“We’re managing our relationship in the United States. We’ve got a strong relationship,” McGuinty said, but added: “Obviously, things have changed.”McGuinty spoke favorably of the joint Japan-U.K.-Italy project to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035, known as the Global Combat Air Program, as an example of how smaller nations can work together. He said Canada was interested in GCAP and was seeking more information about it.“We’re realizing that there’s a real opportunity here to do some good things together. We can pool our resources. And I think GCAP is a perfect illustration of that,” McGuinty said. “No one country really can do this alone anymore.”Engaging in the Indo-Pacific also meant Canada had made a decision to “recalibrate” its relationship with China, McGuinty said. There was no contradiction between deeper defense ties with allies and a closer trade relationship with China, he said.In January, Carney visited Beijing, where he unveiled a trade pact that slashes tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles. McGuinty noted that Industry Minister Melanie Joly also travelled to Beijing to meet with officials from Chinese carmakers.“We are managing our relationship with sovereign states as a sovereign state. So for us, it’s pretty obvious,” McGuinty said. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.