The Royal Canadian Navy will step up joint exercises with Japanese warships and Tokyo is looking at conducting military training with Canada in the Arctic under a new strategic partnership signed by Mark Carney.

The Prime Minister arrived Friday in Japan, arguably Canada’s most important ally in Asia, as part of his drive to boost non-U.S. trade in the face of increased protectionism in the United States under President Donald Trump. It’s the final stop in a 10-day trip that started in India and continued to Australia and Japan.

In Tokyo, Mr. Carney met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, fresh from a landslide election victory that secured her immediate political future.

The leaders emerged from the Kantei, or prime minister’s office, to announce the partnership that will forge deeper co-operation in defence, energy, critical minerals and advanced technology such as artificial intelligence.