Joint Statement on the Canada-Nordic-Baltic Eight meeting

September 22, 2026 – New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

Today, Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, convened the foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden to the first Canada-Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) ministerial meeting.

During the meeting, the Nordic-Baltic countries and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to

the rules-based international order, international law and the UN Charter. They stand united against any attempt to change borders by force and will continue close coordination in the UN, OSCE, NATO and with the EU to uphold these principles and ensure accountability.

They reaffirmed that EU-Canada relations support shared goals on trade diversification, supply chains and strategic partnerships. They also highlighted Canada’s important role in Europe’s security, including through its agreement with the EU to participate in the SAFE instrument.

Together, Canada and the NB8 reaffirmed their common interests and shared priorities in the Euro-Atlantic region. Ministers emphasized that the Baltic Sea, the North Atlantic and the Arctic are interconnected elements of Allied security, noting the importance of responding to Russian threats to critical infrastructure, including energy, and hybrid activities across these regions.

Ministers reaffirmed the importance of cooperation within bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to continue advancing Euro-Atlantic security. Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes and steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and committed to continued coordination to ensure that their efforts remain effective, complementary and responsive to Ukraine’s evolving needs. They also emphasized the importance of restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and reiterated Ukraine’s call for Russia to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire.

Ministers underscored the need to sustain international pressure on Russia to cease its aggression against Ukraine, with particular attention to Russia’s repeated strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Canada welcomed the participation of senior NB8 delegations at the September 28-29 Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War, in Toronto.

Ministers also welcomed Estonia’s plans to host the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, January 28-29, 2027, and underscored their ongoing commitment to work together in support of Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and long-term resilience.

Ministers identified concrete opportunities to deepen practical cooperation on defence industrial cooperation, maritime security, critical infrastructure protection and economic security. They also discussed the need to continue strengthening collective security and readiness, including through ongoing efforts to counter hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation and interference.

They agreed to remain in close contact, regularly convene in the Canada-NB8 format, and continue advancing shared security, defence and resilience priorities under Norway’s forthcoming NB8 chairmanship.