Trudeau to tell allies to stay resolute with Ukraine focus of NATO summit

Canada will beryllium reassuring friends of its committedness to nan occidental confederation arsenic Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travels to Washington, D.C., this week to return portion successful nan NATO leaders’ acme astatine a captious clip for war-ravaged Ukraine.

The 32 NATO countries are group to people nan alliance’s 75th day successful nan aforesaid metropolis wherever nan first pact was signed. Trudeau will beryllium attending a meal pinch NATO leaders astatine nan White House hosted by President Joe Biden arsenic nan property and intelligence acuity of nan United States leader is expected to formed a protector complete nan historical meeting.

“All eyes are peering down into nan U.S.,” said Ferry de Kerckhove, a erstwhile high-ranking Canadian diplomat.

The world will beryllium watching to spot really Biden handles nan three-day acme aft a wide panned capacity during nan caller statesmanlike debate.

The upcoming predetermination and nan anticipation of a 2nd Donald Trump management is simply a looming interest for nan long-running protect alliance. Trump has many times claimed he would not take sides NATO members that don’t meet defence spending targets.

Canada is 1 of those members but has defended itself many times for not hitting nan target.

Defence Minister Bill Blair points to NATO figures which show Canada’s defence spending grew 67 per cent betwixt 2014 and 2021, and that comparative to its economy, that accrued spending from 1 per cent of GDP to almost 1.4 per cent.

Canada is expected to walk 1.37 per cent this year, good beneath nan target but Blair has said that he expects spending to climb to astatine slightest 1.75 per cent by 2029 pinch further spending for a caller submarine fleet and integrated aerial defence and rocket systems apt pushing nan fig past 2 per cent.

The promises whitethorn not reassure Canada’s friends among worrying tensions pinch Russia, North Korea and China.

“Can we really person nan group astir nan array and nan Americans that we are going to chime successful astatine nan correct time?” de Kerckhove said.

The ongoing warfare successful Ukraine will beryllium beforehand and centre and bilateral information agreements are expected to beryllium signed. But nan acme is improbable to spell arsenic acold arsenic Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes, said Aurel Braun, a professor of world relations and governmental subject astatine nan University of Toronto.

“This acme … could beryllium an inflection constituent for Ukraine: What is NATO going to do?” said Braun.

A Canadian authorities charismatic speaking connected inheritance said Trudeau, who will beryllium accompanied by Blair and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, will beryllium making forceful comments astir nan request to enactment resolute successful backing Ukraine, arsenic doubts astir continuing nan conflict are increasing successful Europe and nan United States.

NATO personnel companies person been spending nan balanced of C$59 cardinal each twelvemonth connected subject instrumentality for Ukraine since nan warfare began successful February 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday he expects heads of authorities and authorities will work together to a important package for Ukraine that “constitute a span to NATO membership.”

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Members person overwhelmingly provided support to Ukraine but are cautious not to beryllium drawn into a wider conflict pinch Russia.

Hungary made an statement past period not to veto NATO efforts astatine nan upcoming acme to support Ukraine, arsenic agelong arsenic nan region is not forced to thief out.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced condemnation from Kyiv and immoderate European leaders aft a gathering pinch Russian President Vladimir Putin successful Moscow Friday wherever he said they discussed bid proposals for Ukraine.

Braun, who is besides an subordinate pinch nan Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies astatine Harvard University, said he will beryllium looking for much specifications connected nan committedness from past year’s acme erstwhile NATO leaders agreed to fast-track Ukraine’s rank process. It is improbable to go a reality for galore years and Braun said Ukraine’s rank prospects whitethorn beryllium linked to concessions that Zelenskyy whitethorn not beryllium happy about.

“Are they offering a span aliases are they trading a bridge?” Braun asked.

Trudeau will besides beryllium utilizing his clip successful Washington for different meetings successful nan metropolis to bolster Team Canada efforts up of nan U.S. predetermination to guarantee nan authorities is prepared for immoderate outcome. He will beryllium gathering pinch Republican and Democrat politicians including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky).

Trudeau, whose Liberals came to powerfulness successful October 2015, was criticized for being unprepared for nan first Trump presidency aft nan 2016 U.S. predetermination and their narration was notably rocky passim nan Republican leader’s four-year tenure.

Experts opportunity gathering defence backing targets will spell a agelong measurement to strengthening nan narration pinch Canada’s largest trading partner.

This study by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2024.

-with files from The Associated Press.