Von der Leyen floats 'associated' EU membership for Canada amid US rift

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed elevating EU-Canada relations to 'the highest possible level,' including a form of 'associated' EU membership, in a speech responding to strained ties with the United States. The proposal is preliminary and lacks concrete institutional detail, but signals a strategic pivot toward like-minded partners as transatlantic friction deepens. If pursued, it would mark a novel expansion of EU integration beyond Europe, though legal and political hurdles remain significant.