Canada is “clearly on track” to meet NATO’s defense goals in the coming years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, as pressure mounted in Ottawa after the US election.
Speaking at NATO’s annual parliamentary meeting in Montreal on Monday, Trudeau said Canada has so far ensured that its investment in NATO deployments is “as concrete as possible,” but added that more needs to be done.
“We are on a clear path to reach 2 percent in the coming years because we know the world is changing and Canada, along with our partners, must be ready for it,” Trudeau said.
Canada is one of only eight NATO members that does not meet the alliance’s target of spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defense, but has pledged to get there by 2032.
Trudeau said Canada has added $175 billion to its spending target. Canada’s revised defense policy spending will increase from 1.37 percent of GDP currently to 1.76 percent by 2030.
The parliamentary budget chief, however, said Canada’s plan to hit NATO’s defense targets is unclear and the current forecast for increased military spending is based on “flawed” economic assumptions.
“One of the challenges we’ve always had with two per cent is that it doesn’t matter what you use it for, what matters is that you reach that limit and Canada has never felt that way,” Trudeau said.
“We have made sure that our investment is as strong as possible, and that it contributes to the ability of Canadians to continue to play a leading role in the many different aspects of NATO.”
“We have to do more, and we are doing more, but especially stepping up in the Arctic, stepping up to some of the key challenges that we face is something that all NATO countries can continue to count on in Canada.”
The Minister of Defence, Bill Blair, emphasized Canada’s commitment to achieving the NATO goal, saying that “the two percent figure has been resolved,” but for Ottawa to get there it needs better support and collaboration with its partners and industry stakeholders.
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“One of the biggest challenges I face is getting the money and spending the money … but the commitment is there,” Blair said at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute’s annual defense procurement conference in Ottawa on Monday.
He said there is a sense of urgency for Canada to invest so that the country can fulfill its NATO obligations.
Following Donald Trump’s election victory earlier this month, pressure is mounting for Canada to meet NATO goals as the Republican president-elect has previously warned that the United States may not protect allies that do not meet the alliance agreement agreed to by two percent of them. GDP in defense.
Trevor Neiman, vice-president of policy and legal counsel at the Business Council of Canada, said that given Trump’s warning, there is “significant danger” stemming from Canada’s disagreements with its closest security and economic partner.
Speaking to Mercedes Stephenson of the Halifax International Security Forum in an interview broadcast on Sunday West BlockRepublican Sen. James Risch of Idaho and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire downplayed concerns that Trump would punish Canada on things like trade if it didn’t increase defense spending.
But Risch suggested Washington is growing impatient with Canada’s progress in meeting NATO’s target of spending at least two percent on defence, which Ottawa says it plans to meet eight years from now.
“If Donald Trump was sitting here, you would get him out in 2032, because that is far from what we are facing in the world right now,” he said.
“That is forever for us. This must be done now.”
Blair said the US wants Canada to move quickly and is ready to do so but “could use some help” when it comes to congressional authorization and regulations imposed by US-based industries The export of US military technology is subject to congressional approval.
“We realize we need it to go fast, but I can’t go fast without a lot of help,” Blair said.
He said the 2032 timeline promised in July is based on what Canada can do now, but that could change.
Neiman said Canada’s lagging behind in its defense goals also does not bode well for its economy.
“If Canada does not follow suit with its major partners, we will be left behind,” he said in an interview with Global News.
“We will be excluded from important political parties and we will also miss an opportunity to grow our economy and create good jobs for Canadian workers.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said Canada needs to make sure its high defense spending supports the Canadian economy.
“As we increase our defense spending, we must make sure that yes, it is about supporting our military in these times of real world challenges, that it is about being a good partner to our partners around the world, but also that spending on defense is consistent with our economic policy in a way that countries with high defense costs have already achieved, ” Freeland told reporters in Ottawa on Monday.
“So, that’s the work we’re doing now and something that Canada needs to think about.”
Over the weekend, anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Montreal.
About 80 people attended Saturday’s anti-NATO protest, demanding Canada withdraw from the alliance, in the center of the city, organized by Le Mouvement Québécois pour la Paix. Protesters carried signs reading “Canada out of NATO” and chanted “Solidarity with Palestine.”
On Friday, a protest organized by different groups also led to arrests, burning of cars and windows.
Trudeau joined Canadian ministers and politicians in condemning the violence, calling it “absolutely unacceptable.”
“As a country governed by democracy as a country that will always protect freedom of speech, it is important that people can go out and protest and express their anger, their disagreements in free and comfortable ways, but there has never been a place to fight racism. , hatred, racism, violence,” he said on Monday.
“We expect all those involved to be prosecuted and punished under the law and we expect the authorities to do their job.”
— via files from Global News’ Sean Boynton and Touria Izri and The Canadian Press
