Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early, reduce US defence reliance, Carney says
Toronto, Canada will meet NATO's military spending guideline by early next year and diversify defence spending away from the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday.
Carney said Canada will achieve NATO's spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than it had previously planned.
'Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness," Carney said. "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."
According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33 per cent of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2 per cent target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO's spending target by the end of the decade.
'Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,' Carney said.
The announcement of increased spending came as Canada is about to host a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. It also comes as NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2 per cent target.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most US allies at NATO endorse US President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5 per cent of gross domestic product on their defence needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more.
Carney has said that he intends to diversify Canada's procurement and enhance the country's relationship with the EU.
'We should no longer send three quarters of our defence capital spending to America,' Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. 'We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.'
Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defence equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney's government is reviewing the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options.
Carney said that the US 'is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its contributions to our collective security.'
'Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu," Carney said.
Trump's calls to make Canada the 51st US state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump.
Carney said that the long-held view that Canada's geographic location will protect Canadians is becoming increasingly archaic.
European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. GRS GRS
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
Donald Trump backs arrest threat against California Governor Newsom: ‘I would do it if I were Tom'
US President Donald Trump escalated his feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday (June 9), suggesting that Newsom should be arrested after publicly daring Border Czar, Tom Homan, to do so. Speaking briefly to reporters after landing at the White House, Trump responded to Newsom's defiant remarks made during a TV interview. 'I would do it if I were Tom,' Trump said, referring to Homan. 'I like Gavin Newsom… he's a nice guy, but he's grossly incompetent.' The remarks come days after Newsom challenged Homan on MSNBC, saying: 'He's a tough guy. Why doesn't he do that? He knows where to find me… So, Tom, arrest me. Let's go.' Newsom's comments were a direct response to Homan's warning that state officials who interfere with federal immigration operations could face felony charges. Tensions between California and federal authorities have intensified following a surge in immigration raids in Los Angeles. Homan, speaking earlier with NBC News, warned that local leaders obstructing immigration enforcement could be prosecuted. 'You cross that line, it's a felony,' Homan said. 'It's a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It's a felony to impede law enforcement doing their job.' He also made it clear that federal agents would not back down from operations in Los Angeles, regardless of resistance from state or city officials. In a Truth Social post, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, sarcastically suggesting they should be thanking him instead of pushing back against federal action. 'The very incompetent 'Governor,' Gavin Newscum, and 'Mayor,' Karen Bass, should be saying, 'THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR,'' Trump wrote. 'Instead, they choose to lie… by saying that we weren't needed, and that these are 'peaceful protests.' Just one look at the pictures and videos of the Violence and Destruction tells you all you have to know.' This latest clash underscores the deepening divide between federal and California state officials over immigration policy and public safety. Newsom and Bass have condemned the use of National Guard troops to quell protests against anti-ICE immigration raids, warning it could escalate tensions in an already volatile environment. Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass have both criticised the deployment of over 2,000 National Guard troops authorised by Trump in response to the protests, warning it could escalate violence rather than restore order. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Newsom requested the federal troops be returned to state control, emphasising that 'State and local authorities are the most appropriate ones to evaluate the need for resources and safeguard life and property.' Protests escalated across Los Angeles and San Francisco over the weekend after President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops without California Governor Gavin Newsom's request — a rare move that ignited political tensions and street chaos. Around 300 National Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles to protect federal buildings. Trump defended the move, saying, 'We're gonna have troops everywhere.' On Truth Social, he added, 'Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!' California leaders slammed the deployment. 'This is a serious breach of state sovereignty,' said Governor Newsom. LA Mayor Karen Bass accused Trump of pursuing 'another agenda — this isn't about public safety.' Protesters shut down the 101 Freeway, set Waymo cars on fire, and clashed with law enforcement. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets. 'We were not notified in advance of the raids,' said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, who confirmed arrests and violent flare-ups. Calling the unrest 'migrant riots,' Trump declared, 'Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free.' He directed federal agencies to coordinate a crackdown and urged more troops: 'Don't let these thugs get away with this.' Similar protests erupted in San Francisco, where 60 people were arrested and three officers injured. 'Violence — especially against SFPD officers — will never be tolerated,' the department said. With Marines placed on standby and cities reeling from the clashes, California faces an intensifying standoff between federal authority and state leaders.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
NATO chief calls for 'quantum leap' in defence and says Russia could attack in 5 years
NATO members need to increase their air and missile defenses by 400% to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance said Monday, warning that Moscow could be ready to attack it within five years. Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during a visit to London that he expects the 32 NATO members to agree to a big hike in military spending at a summit in the Netherlands this month. Speaking at the Chatham House think tank, Rutte said Russia is outpacing the far bigger NATO in producing ammunition, and the alliance must take a "quantum leap" in collective defense. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo "Wishful thinking will not keep us safe," Rutte said. "We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance." Rutte has proposed a target of 3.5% of economic output on military spending and another 1.5% on "defense-related expenditure" such as roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports. He said he is confident the alliance will agree to the target at its summit in The Hague on June 24-25. Live Events At the moment, 22 of the 32 members meet or exceed NATO's current 2% target, which was set in 2014. Rutte said he expects all to reach 2% by the end of this year. The new target would meet a demand by U.S. President Donald Trump that member states spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that don't contribute enough. Rutte said he agreed that "America has carried too much of the burden for too long." Rutte said NATO needs thousands more armored vehicles and millions more artillery shells, as well as a 400% increase in air and missile defense. "We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies," he said. "Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years," Rutte added. "We are all on the eastern flank now." Rutte also held talks Monday with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and praised the U.K.'s commitment to increase defense spending as "very good stuff." Starmer has pledged to boost military spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and to 3% by 2034. Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. European NATO members, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Last week the U.K. government said it would build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become "a battle-ready, armor-clad nation." The plans represent the most sweeping changes to British defenses since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Canada promises to ramp up defense spending, met NATO target much earlier
Canada's Liberal government will pour extra billions into its armed forces and hit NATO's 2% military spending target this fiscal year, much earlier than scheduled, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Monday. Canada has been under heavy pressure from the United States and other NATO allies for years to increase funding for its military. Canada currently spends about 1.4% of GDP on defense. 'Now is the time to act with urgency, force, and determination,' Carney said in a speech in Toronto. The previous Liberal governent had promised to hit the NATO target by 2032. Canada will boost pay for the armed forces and buy new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic, Carney said.
