DKK 2025: “Canada and Germany need closer relations”
The 38th German-Canadian Conference took place in Ottawa on May 5 and 6, 2025 to discuss the many pressing issues on the transatlantic agenda between Canada and Germany. This year’s program dealt with a range of topics spanning trade, diplomacy, technology, immigration, defense and climate. An overarching theme was navigating the global shifts in these areas as global affairs are rapidly evolving, and the necessity to reevaluate the institutions that have provided a solid foundation in the last 80 years led many of the discussions. One thing was clear throughout: Germany and Canada are still strongly aligned in their values and goals and 2025 is shaping up to be the year in which both countries may see some of the untapped potential, such as LNG trade through Germany’s new terminal in Wilhelmshaven, being realized through new partnerships and trade relations.
Post election challenges in Canada and Germany
The outcomes of the elections in Germany and Canada present many challenges and opportunities in the emerging political landscapes. The main consensus in the discussions was that the democratic process in both countries worked, but each country has been facing increasing polarization with the rise of populism. In Canada, election results had largely gone unquestioned, projecting societal cohesion in the face of the political instability seen around the globe. Meanwhile, in Europe, the German election of a new government and chancellor was playing out in real time as the conference took place. Between sessions, a group of attendees gathered around a screen that showed a live stream of the second round of voting that ultimately made Friedrich Merz the chancellor of Germany. The relief from the group was palpable, given that a defeat might have required new elections with a possible further rise of parties on the extremes of the political spectrum.
The idea of a new form of multilateralism, both on the economics and defense fronts, was seen as a possible alternative to diplomatic uncertainty. Bringing Canada closer to the EU, for instance, was brought up as a potential pathway. And while full EU membership may be out of the question, a relationship similar to the Norwegian model was seen as a possibility. Canada and Germany share many common values and challenges and the relationship has, at times, been taken for granted. Deepening the relationship through stronger economic and defense partnerships will require significant infrastructure investments on both sides.
Global trade and defense in the new World order
Another thread that ran through much of the conference was finding ways to tackle the zero-sum nature of global trade wars—a result of the economic and trade instability that has arisen since the implementation of American tariffs. This new economic order has enforced commitments to diversify and strengthen trade agreements with reliable alliances. The sessions underlined a stronger commitment to cooperation and renewed focus on multilateralism. Economic security cannot be achieved through overreliance on one economic partner, as it can lead to stagnation and atrophy of certain economic sectors and supply chains. The way to navigate this new world will be complex and likely come at a higher cost, especially because of the geographical limitations. Mobility of talent and capital was seen as another possible area for improvement to support a move away from reliance on a single foreign market for much of the economic activity in Canada.
Defense strategy was another topic of particular concern for both countries. The lack of modern and digital weapons represents a potential area of development for both Canada and Germany. New and accelerated procurement processes could also better prepare Canada for potential Arctic threats.
Navigating Technology, Media and the new AI era
At least some aspect surrounding the use of AI made its way into most panels at the conference. Maybe the most influential use of AI is seen in the media. In a relatively short amount of time we’ve seen specifically Generative AI reshape the way people create and consume news and entertainment. In the eyes of the public, lines are starting to blur between content with a high factual quality and content that is convincing, but lacks any footing in reality. The effects of this are starting to spill over into democratic institutions that find themselves undermined by factually inaccurate or false but highly emotionally engaging and viral content. The ease with which this is achievable on a global scale also invites adversaries to take up this powerful tool into their arsenal.
Additionally, most digital services currently rely on US-based hyperscalers to provide the compute and storage that powers their business model. This is starting to be seen as a growing concern of sovereignty for both businesses and countries. Models such as “Sovereign Clouds” were mentioned as a way for nations to protect their digital assets and integrity within the confines of their own legal and regulatory systems and prevent a possible overreach of other governments.
A forum for changemakers that allows for space to ask tough questions
If there was ever a year where strengthening the ties and understanding between Canada and Germany has been more important, 2025 was certainly it. The German Canadian Conference has proven to be a forum where the free exchange of thoughts and ideas can thrive. With an eclectic selection of delegates, drawn from many areas of government, industry and academia, as well as the ten participants of Atlantik-Brücke’s Young Atlantiks program, discussions were quite lively at times. What remains is the sense that by opening the dialogue we can start to affect the change that is needed to create those closer ties both Canada and Germany need in these times.