Global Hotspots | Canada and the EU: What Associate Membership Could Mean

In this week’s episode, Milos Maggiore, Jared Jeter, and Andrew Loftesnes examine the European Union’s invitation for Canada to become an “associate member,” what closer Canada–EU ties could mean for both sides, and the early reactions to the proposal.

Elsewhere in this week’s Global Hotspots, the team analyzes major geopolitical developments across the Middle East, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific:

• The U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time in three years.
• Saudi Arabia carries out more than 400 strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, while Houthi forces capture two Red Sea islands amid growing civilian displacement.
• The U.S. Congress approves new sanctions against Russia, as Poland halts air traffic following alerts over Russian drones in its airspace.
• President Donald Trump responds to reports of Chinese intelligence support for Iran.
• North Korea reiterates plans to expand its nuclear arsenal.

What do these developments mean for the geopolitical outlook, and what should policymakers and businesses watch next?

Explore the Global Forecast Monitor here. 

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Marxist Arrow by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Photo: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (C) speaks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, as part of a trip during which he welcomed a proposal by European Commission President for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member, on September 17, 2026. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on September 17, 2026, rejected threats by US President Donald Trump over Ottawa’s push for closer ties with the European Union. (Photo by Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN / AFP via Getty Images)