&w=3840&q=100)
PM Carney commits big billions to military spending, says Canada to hit Nato target this year
While previous Liberal government under Justin Trudeau had pledged to reach the 2 per cent benchmark by 2032, PM Mark Carney has claimed that the new investment package would accelerate that timeline read more
Canada will meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (Nato) defence spending target of 2 per cent of its GDP this fiscal year, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday (June 9), committing billions of dollars in additional military investment much earlier than previously planned.
The move marks a significant shift for Canada, which has long faced pressure from the United States and other Nato allies to increase its defence budget. Canada currently spends about 1.4 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'Now is the time to act with urgency, force, and determination,' Carney said during a speech in Toronto.
The previous Liberal government had pledged to reach the 2 per cent benchmark by 2032, but Carney said the new investment package would accelerate that timeline. The additional funding will go toward raising military salaries and acquiring new submarines, aircraft, ships, artillery, armed vehicles, radar systems, drones and seabed and Arctic sensors.
Nato weighs higher targets amid Russian threat
The announcement comes as Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte prepares to urge a sweeping upgrade of the alliance's defences, including a proposed 400 per cent increase in air and missile systems to counter threats from Russia.
In prepared remarks for a speech at Chatham House in London, Rutte said Nato needs 'a quantum leap in our collective defence' to maintain credible deterrence.
'We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,' he said. 'The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence.'
Rutte has previously proposed that alliance members increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and contribute another 1.5 per cent to broader security needs — a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a 5 per cent total commitment.
Trump and other American officials have criticized Canada and other allies for failing to shoulder a greater share of Nato's defence burden, particularly amid rising global tensions.
Carney's announcement is expected to bolster Canada's standing within the alliance ahead of upcoming Nato meetings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump says China trade deal ‘done': 55% tariff, supply of rare earth minerals
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has reached a trade agreement with China, including an easing of curbs imposed by Beijing on export of rare earth minerals and magnets that are key inputs for industries ranging from automobiles to electronics. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He said China would supply 'any necessary rare earths' and magnets, while the US would make concessions on allowing Chinese students to attend American universities. The Trump administration had recently begun to clamp down on the presence of Chinese nationals on US college campuses. 'We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!' Trump wrote, without elaborating. Bloomberg quoted a White House official as saying that the agreement allows the US to charge a 55 per cent tariff on imported Chinese goods, which, crucially, includes a 10 per cent baseline 'reciprocal' tariff, a 20 per cent tariff for fentanyl trafficking, and a 25 per cent tariff reflecting pre-existing tariffs (imposed by Trump in his first term, that the Biden administration persisted with). China would charge a 10 per cent tariff on American imports, the official said. Though the details of the deal were still unclear, analysts predicted that China seems to have gained the upper-hand after its rare earth restrictions prompted US carmakers, including Ford Motor and Chrysler, to cut production. Significantly, Trump said a final deal is subject to approval from him and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese state media said earlier Wednesday that Beijing had reached a 'framework' for an agreement with the US during talks in London, but there was no official response from China on Trump's subsequent claims on Truth Social. Earlier, both the negotiating sides said they had agreed in principle to a framework for dialling down trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies. After the meeting in London — the second time the two sides have met in the last couple of months, since Trump's sweeping tariff onslaught — there were indications of a reconciliation. What is beginning to get clearer after the second meeting is that this is perhaps not how the US imagined the trade war to unfold. China is beginning to dictate the direction of the bilateral talks, with the US almost seen as requesting for much-needed concessions on the resumption of supplies of critical inputs. In the first round of talks in Geneva, the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had asked the Chinese to cut its tariffs in tandem with theirs, primarily because the Americans were facing the heat back home from the early fallout of the high tariffs, including empty shelves at grocery stories and surging prices of daily use commodities. In London, the US side is learnt to have specifically asked the Chinese to 'suspend or remove' restrictions on rare earths magnets, which had forced a supply-chain crunch. The London meeting follows a call between Trump and Xi on June 5, which was initiated by the White House — the first call since Trump's reciprocal tariff announcement. After the London talks, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the deal should result in restrictions on rare earth minerals and magnets 'being resolved'. 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus… Once the Presidents approve it, we will then seek to implement it,' he said. 'The two sides have, in principle, reached a framework for implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state during the phone call on June 5 and the consensus reached at the Geneva meeting,' the BBC quoted China's Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang as saying. Chinese export controls over rare earth minerals were high on the agenda of the meetings. While Beijing has not imposed an outright ban on the export of rare earth magnets, the process has been made very difficult; it could take a long time to source, posing shortage risks. Rare earth magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are crucial for EV manufacturing. They provide the strong magnetic fields needed for efficient and powerful electric motors, including traction motors that drive EVs. These magnets also play a major role in other EV components like power steering systems, wiper motors and braking systems. China has a virtual stranglehold over these rare earth magnets. In May, talks held in Geneva led to a temporary truce after the tit-for-tat tariff increases by both sides, which led to duties that peaked at 145 per cent. Trump called the outcome of the talks in Switzerland a 'total reset', which brought US tariffs on Chinese products down to 30 per cent, while Beijing cut duties on US imports to 10 per cent. Both sides also agreed to a 90-day deadline to try to reach a trade deal. However, the US and China have since accused each other of breaching the deal. The US has said that Beijing has been dragging its feet on opening up exports of rare earth metals and magnets while the Chinese claim that Washington has restricted its access to American goods such as semiconductors and other related technologies linked to artificial intelligence. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had said China had failed to roll back restrictions on exports of rare earth magnets. In the run-up to this week's talks, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it had approved some applications for rare earth export licences. The problem for the US is that the Chinese side has wrested some advantage, especially by leveraging its strategy of weaponing its dominance in key sectors. Rare earth minerals and magnets is one such area, where the US is now desperate for concessions. Both sides have since claimed breaches on non-tariff pledges, but the Americans clearly seem more eager for a reconciliation, given the impact of the Chinese blockade on its key manufacturing sectors. These Chinese trade blockades are already impacting companies in other geographies. Hamamatsu-based small car maker Suzuki Motors, for instance, said last week it plans to suspend the production of its flagship Swift compact hatchback due to China's rare earth restrictions, becoming the first Japanese automaker to be impacted. There are similar worries among other manufacturing entities across the world, including in the US. Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
41 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
US orders departure of non-essential personnel in Middle East as tensions rise
The United States is drawing down the presence of people who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East due to the potential for regional unrest, the State Department and military said Wednesday. The State Department said it has ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad based on its latest review and a commitment 'to keeping Americans safe, both at home and abroad.' The embassy already had been on limited staffing, and the order will not affect a large number of personnel. The department, however, also is authorizing the departure of nonessential personnel and family members from Bahrain and Kuwait. That gives them an option on whether to leave those countries. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also 'has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations' across the region, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The command 'is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East.' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly confirmed the moves. 'The State Department regularly reviews American personnel abroad, and this decision was made as a result of a recent review,' Kelly said. Tensions in the region have been rising in recent days as talks between the U.S. and Iran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program appear to have hit an impasse. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions that the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Also Read: Donald Trump wearing a Foley catheter? POTUS' latest appearance sparks health concerns The next round of talks — the sixth — had been tentatively scheduled for this weekend in Oman, according to two U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic matters. However, those officials said Wednesday that it looked increasingly unlikely that the talks would happen. President Donald Trump, who has previously threatened to use military force against Iran if negotiations failed, gave a less-than-optimistic view about reaching a deal with Iran, telling the New York Post's 'Pod Force One' podcast that he was "getting more and more less confident about' a deal. Also Read: Trump says he would 'certainly invoke' Insurrection Act if needed amid Los Angeles protests 'They seem to be delaying, and I think that's a shame. I'm less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them," he said in the interview, which was recorded on Monday. Also Read: Donald Trump accepts Elon Musk's apology: 'Very nice that he did that' Iran's mission to the U.N. posted on social media that 'threats of overwhelming force won't change the facts.' 'Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and U.S. militarism only fuels instability,' the Iranian mission wrote. Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh separately told journalists Wednesday that he hoped talks with the U.S. would yield results, though Tehran stood ready to respond. 'If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent's casualties will certainly be more than ours, and in that case, America must leave the region, because all its bases are within our reach,' he said. 'We have access to them, and we will target all of them in the host countries without hesitation.' Meanwhile, the Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency was potentially set to vote on a measure to censure Iran. That could set in motion an effort to snap back United Nations sanctions on Iran via a measure in Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that's still active until October. Trump withdrew from that deal in his first term. Earlier Wednesday, a statement from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, a Mideast-based effort overseen by the British navy, issued a warning to ships in the region that it 'has been made aware of increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.' It urged caution in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. It did not name Iran, though those waterways have seen Iranian ship seizures and attacks in the past.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Donald Trump says all his children could be future politicians: ‘They were born smart'
US President Donald Trump says all of his children could have a future in politics — and he's confident they have what it takes. Speaking on the new podcast hosted by New York Post's Miranda Devine, Trump discussed his children, their potential political aspirations, and his approach to parenting. 'I don't know. I mean, I don't know. I think all of them probably have a future in politics, frankly,' Trump said. When asked if his son, Donald Trump Jr., might run for president. 'And Don is very good. A good guy. He's an outdoorsman.' The 45th president praised each of his children by name, describing their strengths and careers. Donald Trump Jr.: The President lauded his oldest son's political instincts and public presence. "Don is very good. A good guy. He's an outdoorsman,' Trump replied. Eric Trump: 'Eric has done a fantastic job,' Trump said. Eric is currently executive vice president and trustee of the Trump Organization. Ivanka Trump: 'She's so great,' Trump said, referencing her time in his administration. Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have mostly stayed away from politics during Trump's current term. Tiffany Trump: 'She went to a great law school and did very well,' Trump noted. Tiffany recently gave birth to her first child and continues to lead a relatively private life. Barron Trump: Trump called his youngest son 'great' and 'very tall and good.' Barron is studying at NYU. Eric's wife, Lara Trump, was also highlighted for her political involvement. She previously served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and now hosts her own Fox News program, My View with Lara Trump. The President also shared what he believes is the secret to successful parenting. 'I always said the same thing. I said: no drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes,' Trump explained. He added with a laugh, 'I also would say don't get tattoos, but I don't say it too strongly, because a lot of people have gotten tattoos, and that's what they chose to do.' 'I still say it,' he emphasised. 'I tell them: no drugs, no cigarettes, no alcohol.' Trump became emotional while speaking about his youngest son's relationship with Melania Trump's late mother, Amalija Knavs, who passed away in February 2024 at age 78. 'He wanted to be there because his grandmother was gonna stay and wait for him in an apartment near the school. And she passed away,' he said. 'She was fantastic. Melania's mother was a fantastic woman. And Melania is a fantastic mother.' Trump's comments suggest he sees a lasting role for the Trump family in American political life. 'They were born smart,' he said. 'But they work hard too, and they're good to people.'
