Latest news with #DefenceInvestmentPledge
Cision Canada
10 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Canada joins new NATO Defence Investment Pledge Français
THE HAGUE, the Netherlands, June 25, 2025 /CNW/ - The world is increasingly dangerous and divided, with the rules-based international system under unprecedented pressure and global conflict becoming more frequent and volatile. To meet this moment, Canada and its Allies are building their defence capabilities to strengthen our collective security. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies have agreed to a new Defence Investment Pledge of investing 5 per cent of annual GDP by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective security. The commitment aligns with Canada's own strategic defence and security goals. As part of this 5 per cent pledge, Canada will invest 3.5 per cent of GDP for core military capabilities, expanding on our recent investments. That means further investments in our Canadian Armed Forces, modernizing our military equipment and technology, building up Canada's defence industries, and diversifying our defence partnerships. An additional 1.5 per cent of GDP will be dedicated to investments in critical defence and security-related expenditure, such as new airports, ports, telecommunication, emergency preparedness systems, and other dual-use investments which serve defence as well as civilian readiness. Importantly, the progress of this pledge will be reviewed in 2029 to ensure Allies' expenditures align with the global security landscape. At the Summit, Canada and its Allies reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and the leaders agreed on the imperative for a just and lasting peace. Canada's contributions to Ukraine's defence and its defence industries, including Canada's $2 billion in military assistance announced last week at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, are included in our NATO contributions, as the security of Ukraine is critical to our collective security. Quotes "The world is increasingly dangerous and divided. Canada must strengthen our defence to better protect our sovereignty, our interests, and our Allies. These investments won't just build our military capacity – they will build our industries and create good, high-paying jobs at home. If we want a more secure world, we need a stronger Canada." — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada "Canada is a proud founding member of the Alliance. In an increasingly unstable and unpredictable world, we are making the critical investments needed to keep Canadians safe, support our Armed Forces, and strengthen our role in Europe and on the world stage. The renewed Defence Investment Pledge to invest 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 reaffirms Canada's strong commitment to our security, to our sovereignty, and to NATO." — The Hon. , Minister of National Defence The Hague Summit Declaration Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization This document is also available at
See - Sada Elbalad
13-02-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
NATO Secretary General Warns of 'Devastating' Response to Any Russian Attack
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the press ahead of the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels, outlining key priorities as the Alliance prepares for the NATO Summit in The Hague this June. Strengthening Defence Spending and Capabilities The Secretary General emphasized the importance of defence investment, noting that while NATO has robust plans in place to safeguard its one billion citizens, further financial commitments are necessary. 'We are already moving in the right direction,' Rutte stated. 'European Allies and Canada have contributed more than 700 billion additional U.S. dollars for defence since the 2014 Defence Investment Pledge. In 2024 alone, NATO Allies in Europe and Canada invested 485 billion U.S. dollars—a nearly 20% increase from 2023.' Rutte highlighted that two-thirds of NATO Allies are now meeting or exceeding the 2% GDP defence spending target, with even more expected to reach this level in 2025. However, he stressed that further investment is required to ensure NATO has the necessary people and equipment to deter and defend effectively. Enhancing Defence Industrial Capacity NATO Defence Ministers will also focus on strengthening transatlantic defence industrial capacity. Rutte announced discussions on updating NATO's Defence Production Action Plan to accelerate defence manufacturing. 'In recent years, we have seen a significant rise in defence production across the Alliance,' he said. 'But we need to go further and faster. There is no time to waste.' Support for Ukraine and Burden Sharing The Secretary General reaffirmed NATO's steadfast commitment to Ukraine, highlighting that since 2022, NATO Allies have provided 99% of Ukraine's military aid. 'At the Washington Summit, Allies pledged 40 billion euros in security assistance for Ukraine in 2024,' Rutte noted. 'Not only have they met this commitment—they have exceeded it, providing over 50 billion euros, with more than half coming from European Allies and Canada.' Rutte emphasized that this effort aligns with calls for a more balanced distribution of security assistance. 'I agree with President Trump that we must equalize security assistance to Ukraine,' he said. 'But to truly shift the trajectory of the conflict, we need to do even more. A stronger Ukraine on the battlefield means a stronger position at the negotiating table and a greater chance for lasting peace.' NATO Defence Ministers will meet with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in the NATO-Ukraine Council to further discuss support for Ukraine. Countering Russian Destabilization Efforts The Secretary General also addressed Russia's ongoing hybrid threats against NATO Allies, including sabotage, assassinations, and attacks on critical infrastructure. 'NATO is responding,' Rutte affirmed. 'Through operations like 'Baltic Sentry' in the Baltic Sea and increased vigilance across the board, we are taking action to protect our Allies and deter further aggression.' Looking Ahead Rutte welcomed the United Kingdom's leadership in hosting today's Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and expressed anticipation for further collaboration with newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. As NATO Defence Ministers convene, discussions will also include NATO's new Commercial Space Strategy and further strengthening Integrated Air and Missile Defence. 'The decisions we take now will shape our collective security for years to come,' Rutte concluded. 'We are making real progress, but we must continue to step up to meet the challenges of an increasingly dangerous world.'
