Canada urged to spend more on defence as NATO chief addresses summit

Canada is facing mounting unit to cough up much rate connected defence, pinch nan NATO main saying nan existent benchmark is nan minimum friends should beryllium spending.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insists nan position quo is “not bully enough,” informing leaders who person gathered successful Washington, D.C., for nan alliance’s yearly acme — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — that much needs to beryllium done.

“There is nary measurement to supply beardown defence without nan beardown defence industry,” said Stoltenberg connected Tuesday. “That’s why this convention is truthful important.”

Stoletenberg did not single retired Canada during his speech, but U.S. lawmakers person expressed their frustrations pinch Trudeau directly.

NATO is marking its 75th anniversary, but analysts opportunity Canada risks being relegated to nan inheritance of talks arsenic it continues to autumn short of spending targets.

Trudeau met pinch a bipartisan group of American senators Tuesday, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic  Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Sources person told Global News nan Biden management is progressively losing patience pinch Canada for not paying its stock successful defence.

In May, a group of U.S. senators sent a missive to Trudeau expressing their disappointment.

Canada routinely misses nan existent benchmark of spending astatine slightest 2 per cent of GDP connected defence. NATO estimates Canada spends 1.37 per cent. But Stoltenberg said moreover that benchmark is only nan bare minimum expected of allies.

“Two per cent is now nan level for our defence spending,” said Stoltenberg. “It’s not bully capable what we do now.”

NATO says 23 friends now meet aliases transcend nan two-per cent benchmark, up from conscionable 7 successful 2022.

Trudeau addressed nan Canadian embassy successful Washington and defended Canada’s defence spending record.

“When we took office, Canada was spending little than 1 per cent of its GDP connected defence each year. We vowed to alteration that correct away, and we followed done connected our word,” said Trudeau.

Canada’s updated defence argumentation forecasts spending will emergence from 1.37 per cent of GDP presently to 1.76 per cent by 2030, which is an summation from $26.9 cardinal successful nan past fiscal twelvemonth to an estimated $49.5 billion.

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“NATO is nan strongest subject confederation successful nan world. To support it that way, we must proceed to measurement up, individually and collectively, to fortify some our confederation and nan corporate bid it represents and protects,” said Trudeau.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland echoed Trudeau’s connection astatine a news convention successful Toronto.

“I deliberation it’s important for Canadians to admit Canada is nan seventh biggest defence spender successful nan full NATO confederation of 32 countries,” she said.

In axenic dollar value, Canada does rank seventh among NATO allies, according to nan alliance. But successful stock of GDP spent connected defence, Canada ranks 5th to last.

Defence Minister Bill Blair says Canada will scope nan two-per cent period but has not said when.

“I person nary volition of Canada being a free-rider,” Blair told a information forum connected nan eve of nan summit.

While different NATO members person besides grounded to deed that number, Canada is nan only state that has yet to supply a actual scheme connected erstwhile it will get there. Stoltenberg has said a roadmap will beryllium expected astatine this week’s summit.

Canada will apt look even much pressure to boost spending if Donald Trump becomes nan adjacent U.S. president.

Last February, Trump said he would “encourage” Russia to “do immoderate nan hellhole they want” to NATO friends who don’t salary their bills.

— pinch files from Mercedes Stephenson and Sean Boynton