May 20, 2026 – Tallinn, Estonia – Global Affairs Canada

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada and the Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Lithuania and the Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, met in Tallinn, Estonia, for the fourth Canada–Baltics “3+1” Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 20, 2026. Building on earlier meetings in Lithuania (2020), Canada (2022), and Latvia (2024), Ministers reaffirmed the value of this format in strengthening coordination among close Allies and like-minded partners.

Meeting at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, Ministers agreed that Russia remains the main long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and reiterated their unwavering commitment to NATO, collective defence and transatlantic unity. They condemned Russia’s continued malign hybrid actions, including foreign interference and its use of information manipulation, and pledged to work together to address this threat. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and credible defence and deterrence posture, including through sustained investment and burden-sharing. Ministers highlighted Canada’s leadership of NATO’s Multinational Brigade in Latvia as a clear demonstration of Allied solidarity. They called for improved NATO situational awareness and resilience across the Arctic, Baltic Sea and North Atlantic regions. They celebrated Canada’s growing role in Europe’s security and stability agenda, demonstrated by the fact that Canada is the only non-European country to have signed an agreement with the EU for participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument and also the first non-European country to have participated at leader level in the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia on May 4, 2026.

Ministers exchanged views on global and regional security. They reaffirmed that support to Ukraine remains a strategic imperative, recognizing its importance for European and Euro-Atlantic security. They agreed on the need to bolster military support for Ukraine while also constraining Russia’s ability to finance its war effort. They committed to increase pressure on Russia, including through sanctions and international isolation. Ministers emphasized the strategic value of Ukraine’s reconstruction and the importance of advancing conditions for a just and lasting peace, including by supporting accountability mechanisms and ensuring the safe return of deported Ukrainian children, detained civilians and prisoners of war. They welcomed the High-level Meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and its commitment to step up actions for securing the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred or unlawfully deported by Russia.

As regards developments in the Middle East, Ministers highlighted that threats to the free circulation of international shipping pose serious economic and security risks, including to the critical supply chains essential to humanitarian assistance, energy and food security. They affirmed their commitment to using collective diplomatic, economic and military capabilities to support international navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz and advancing efforts toward de-escalation and a durable ceasefire. They reiterated that navigation must be free, as per the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and international law. They also highlighted the need for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access in Gaza and a political path toward a durable settlement that supports lasting regional peace and security.

Ministers celebrated the positive impact of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), with trade between Canada and each of its Baltic partners having increased since provisional application of CETA started in 2017. They agreed to fully leverage CETA to deepen trade and investment ties in critical sectors such as defence, energy and information and communications technologies. They also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation under the Canada–EU Security and Defence Partnership and discussed the potential of initiatives such as the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) and the EU’s SAFE instrument to enhance defence capabilities, resilience, and industrial collaboration. They discussed further opportunities for closer Canada–EU engagement including in preparations for the next EU-Canada Summit this autumn and during Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation on the basis of shared democratic values, recognizing that collective action among like-minded partners is essential to ensuring security and prosperity in a more uncertain world.

Ministers agreed to remaining in close contact and look forward to their next meeting in the “3+1” format in 2027.