Germany’s energy sector was shellshocked in 2022 by the Russia-Ukraine war, while Canada continues to experience high tensions with the United States of America.
In response, the federal government is “urgently rethinking how we develop, export, and leverage our energy and natural resources.”
Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has openly admitted that Canada has long “relied on the U.S. to do our heavy lifting—industry, defence, manufacturing.”
Now the nation is realizing it should probably be able to do some stuff on its own, too.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recently met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss the topic; Hodgson meanwhile delivered a speech at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unleashed not just a war on the battlefield but a war that used energy as a weapon,” remarked Hodgson.
He believes Canada and Germany face similar pressures to build “resilient supply chains” while “navigating the energy transition.”
Canada’s government “has made a conscious choice to re-centre energy and critical minerals in how we think not only about our domestic affairs but also about Canada’s place in the world,” Hodgson stated.
In his speech, the federal minister posited that Canada and Germany share both the same interests and values.
“Canada and Germany must—and will—stand together,” he said.
Through the G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance, Canada announced at the G7 Leader’s Meeting in Alberta that Canada and allies will co-fund projects to strengthen R&D and secure minerals that power EV batteries and aerospace tech, the minister noted.
Germany has also announced the appointment of its Envoy to the Alliance, who will work with Canada’s Envoy leading up to the G7 Ministerial Meeting.
Hodgson also hinted at a “transatlantic hydrogen corridor” which he claims “has long been a focus for our two countries.”
The minister pointed out how Canada is “uniquely positioned to be both a conventional and a clean energy superpower,” citing abundant natural gas reserves, LNG projects, renewable resources, strong hydrogen potential, a nuclear industry, and carbon capture expertise.
This is the beginning, Hodgson concluded, “of an energy and security partnership that will steer our continents and partners forward for the next four years, and the next four decades.”