Canadian AI Minister Evan Solomon
Canadian Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon is conducting a strategic international tour through Germany, Saudi Arabia, and India aimed at securing investment in Canadian technology infrastructure while positioning the country as a leader in AI governance, following Prime Minister Mark Carney's call for middle powers to unite against great-power economic coercion.
Solomon attended the Munich Security Conference over the weekend where he signed the Sovereign Technology Alliance with Germany, will stop in Saudi Arabia to establish an investment framework, and plans to attend the AI Impact Summit in India. The trips focus on "broadening our trade alliances and looking for investment in great Canadian infrastructure, great Canadian technology," Solomon said in an interview.
Sovereign Technology Alliance Signed at Munich
The main purpose of Solomon's Munich visit was signing the new Sovereign Technology Alliance initiative with Germany, which he called a "really important step" in deepening alliances with Europe. Canada also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation on AI with Germany during the conference.
The agreement specifically mentions LawZero, the nonprofit founded by Canadian AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio that develops technical solutions for safe AI. "The Germans are also very keen because they believe that Canada is taking a leadership role in those governance questions," Solomon said.
In December at a G7 ministers meeting in Montreal, Solomon had signed agreements with Germany, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, establishing Canada's growing role in international AI coordination. The Sovereign Technology Alliance builds on the Canada-Germany Digital Alliance announced December 8, 2025.
Building Investment Framework with Saudi Arabia
Solomon is working on establishing relationships with Saudi Arabia and developing a "framework to start increasing investment there." He visited Qatar and the United Arab Emirates last year, signing a memorandum of understanding with the UAE and issuing a joint statement with Qatar.
"The world is changing quickly. And we need to engage," Solomon said, adding he plans to pursue opportunities in both Saudi Arabia and India. "We've got to open up new markets because some markets are getting harder to access because of tariffs. And our strategy is to build new trade alliances, drive new investment and show off Canadian talent."
Carney's Middle Powers Strategy Resonates Globally
Solomon emphasized that international response to Prime Minister Carney's call for middle powers to unite has been overwhelmingly positive. "Absolutely all the speeches at Munich were essentially confirmations of that world view. And so the prime minister is a very important voice for Canada in the world, and people are looking for Canada in that leadership," he said.
Carney had initially been scheduled to attend the Munich conference but cancelled following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Nevertheless, Solomon heard about Carney's Davos speech "in every meeting" he had in Munich, demonstrating the global attention Carney's framework has attracted.
Canada's Position in Global AI Leadership
Solomon noted Canada's unique position in artificial intelligence development: "We're one of four countries in the world that have a functioning large language model." When asked whether Canada will take a leadership role in AI governance, he pointed to Montreal-based Yoshua Bengio, one of the so-called godfathers of AI who has been a global advocate for AI safety and transparency.
The conferences are taking place against a backdrop of shifting global technology alliances and increasing concern about concentrated dependencies on either US or Chinese technology infrastructure. Solomon's tour represents Canada's strategy to position itself as a trusted middle-power alternative in AI development and governance while securing investment to expand domestic capabilities.
