Canada will meet the NATO defense spending threshold of 2 percent of its gross domestic product this year, ahead of schedule, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. This move marks a significant shift in Canada’s defense strategy, as the country aims to reduce its reliance on the United States and strengthen its relationship with the European Union.
In a speech at the University of Toronto, Carney emphasized the need for Canada to adapt to a changing global landscape, citing multiplying threats to the country’s security. “The threats that Canada faces are multiplying,” he warned. Carney’s pledge follows similar commitments from other NATO members, who have been pressured by US President Donald Trump to increase defense spending.
Carney criticized the current state of Canada’s military infrastructure and equipment, stating, “Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness. Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy.
Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly, we are too reliant on the United States.” To address these shortcomings, Canada plans to buy more defense equipment, including fighter planes, from Europe and review its planned purchases of F-35 jets from the US.
The prime minister framed the increase in defense spending as a strategic necessity, saying, “Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants.” Carney also expressed concerns about the US’s growing trend of “monetizing its hegemony” and reducing its contributions to collective security. “The United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its [relative] contributions to our collective security,” he said. “We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America”.
This shift in defense spending comes as NATO allies are poised to increase their commitment to the alliance’s spending target, with some European countries having already ramped up their military budgets in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Canada’s decision to meet the NATO spending threshold ahead of schedule demonstrates its commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities and reducing its reliance on the US.