LIVERPOOL — Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada has formally applied to join the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force as a full-time member, a bid that London is supporting. The joint force is a military coalition made up of 10 NATO allies which was struck in 2014 to create a quick-response force. Canada’s military has worked with the force in multinational drills but has not been a permanent member of the group. On Wednesday, Carney met for the first time with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office after Keir Starmer resigned over the summer. Canadian officials also say the United Kingdom and Canada are in talks to merge their proposed defence financing initiatives to amplify their effects. A senior Canadian government official who briefed reporters on background says Ottawa is very confident they’ll reach an agreement on bringing the two proposals together to form a joint institution — though that decision might not emerge from meetings this week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2026. — With files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
