Canada set to buy nearly $4 billion in US air strike munitions

Canada is set to acquire close to $4 billion worth of air strike munitions from the United States, a sale disclosed on the eve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington.

The weapons are designed for precision strikes and can be carried by fighter jets such as Canada’s aging CF-18s or the new US-made F-35s. Canada is scheduled to begin receiving its F-35 fighters in 2026, though it is reconsidering the size of its order amid the unpredictability of the Trump administration, The Globe and Mail reports.

The Canadian government had no immediate comment on the deal. Military analysts, however, noted its significance. David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the country’s substantial increase in military funding this year provides the Royal Canadian Air Force with additional resources for training, with a portion of the sale designated for practice bombs.

The US State Department confirmed that it had approved the sale and notified Congress under the Foreign Military Sales rules. In a press release, it emphasized the strategic value of the transaction.

“The proposed sale will improve Canada’s credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region, ensure interoperability with US forces, and strengthen Canada’s ability to contribute to shared continental defence,” the statement said. The weapons will be supplied by The Boeing Company and RTX Corporation.

The Department further noted: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the military capability of a NATO Ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and is a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world.”

The announcement underscores Canada’s continued reliance on US defence equipment, with roughly 75 percent of its military gear purchased from its southern neighbor, even as Prime Minister Carney has emphasized the need to diversify suppliers.

Carney is scheduled for a brief meeting with President Trump on December 5, coinciding with the final FIFA World Cup draw. The gathering occurs as the two leaders prepare for co-hosting responsibilities for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico, and amid uncertainty surrounding Trump’s stance on the USMCA trade deal.

By Vafa Guliyeva