European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has invited Canada to become an "associate member" of the European Union (the 27-nation bloc that is the world's third-largest economy), framing the proposal around shared democratic values and mutual strategic interests. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been urging middle powers to forge new coalitions since January, addressed the European Parliament on Thursday to reinforce support for closer ties spanning trade, defence, and investment. The move signals a broader geopolitical realignment, with both sides seeking to reduce dependence on Washington while projecting a values-based model of international cooperation that analysts say could carry wider global significance.