Trudeau Responds to Report Saying He Told NATO Canada Will Never Meet Military Spending Target

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Summit in Madrid on June 29, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to an American media report alleging that he privately told NATO officials that Canada will never meet the military alliance’s defence-spending target for its member countries.

The prime minister was asked by reporters on April 19, after leaving question period in the House of Commons, to confirm or deny the comments attributed to him in a report by The Washington Post published the same day.

“I continue to say and will always say that Canada is a reliable partner to NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization], a reliable partner around the world, and with our military investments, with the support we give to Canadians, we will continue to be doing that,” Trudeau said.

A reporter pressed him to specifically address Canada’s plans regarding the NATO military spending goal of 2 percent of GDP for member countries.

Trudeau would only say the federal government “will continue to be working on investing in giving the support necessary to the men and women of the Canadian Forces to deliver.”

“Whether it’s in Latvia, whether it’s in NATO operations around the world or UN operations, Canada continues to be a partner that is much sought after,” he said.

He added that Canada increased its spending by “about 70 percent” through its defence policy, “Strong, Secure, Engaged,” and is moving forward on modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which it shares in partnership with the United States.

2 Percent Target

According to NATO, in 2006, member countries’ defence ministers “agreed to commit a minimum of 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defence spending to continue to ensure the Alliance’s military readiness.”

The organization adds, “The Defence Investment Pledge endorsed in 2014 calls for Allies to meet the 2% of GDP guideline for defence spending and the 20% of annual defence expenditure on major new equipment by 2024.”

However, Canada has long lagged behind most of the alliance’s member countries on spending as a share of GDP. The alliance, formed in 1949 to promote the stability of the North Atlantic area, currently has 31 member countries.

In 2022, Canada’s military spending declined to just 1.27 percent of GDP.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in February that member countries should set firm requirements and timelines for meeting the target.

“We should move from regarding the 2 percent as a ceiling, to regard the 2 percent of GDP as a floor and minimum and to have a stronger commitment and not a long-term perspective,” he said on Feb. 15 following the Feb. 14–15 meetings of NATO’s defence ministers.

“We need immediate commitment to spend 2 percent as a minimum because when we see the needs for ammunition, for air defence, for training, for readiness, for high-end capabilities, it’s obvious that that 2 percent defence spending is minimal.”

Report

The Washington Post’s recent report cites a leaked Pentagon assessment it obtained saying that Trudeau has “told NATO officials that Canada will never reach 2% defense spending.”

The report does not include any direct quotes from Trudeau and The Epoch Times has not reviewed the Pentagon document it cites.

Neither the Department of National Defence nor the Prime Minister’s Office responded to The Epoch Times before press time to comment on Trudeau’s alleged comments.

The Post’s report also says the Pentagon assessment, which bears the seal of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, shows that the United States and a number of other countries are concerned that Canada’s “widespread defense shortfalls hinder Canadian capabilities” while also “straining partner relationships and alliance contributions.”

According to the report, the assessment says that Germany questions whether Canada can continue its heavy Ukraine aid spending while still meeting its NATO pledges, and also that Turkey is “disappointed” by the Canadian military’s “refusal” to support transporting humanitarian aid after an earthquake there in February.

The assessment also reportedly says Haiti is “frustrated” by Ottawa’s reluctance to lead a multinational security mission to that country.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.