Canada is courting Nordic countries as it seeks to buy more military kit from the likes of Sweden and Finland to offset its trade dependence on the US after President Donald Trump’s repeated threats of annexation.

Mélanie Joly, Canada’s industry minister, told the Financial Times while on a five-day trip to Nordic countries that she is keen to work with “l(fā)ike-minded” Sweden and Finland by boosting business and diplomatic ties and bolstering security in the Arctic region.

“We know we are overdependent [on the US] on trade,” she said. “We know that we have to invest more in our military because of under-financing for decades?.?.?.?Our defence industrial strategy is helping us invest more in the EU and diversify our economic partnerships with key countries in Europe, including Sweden and Finland.”