Canada Further Away From NATO Spending Target Than Projected: Budget Watchdog

HMCS Ottawa’s embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter “Greywolf” conducts manoeuvres near HMCS Vancouver and MV Asterix while the two ships perform a Liquid Replenishment At Sea (L-RAS) during transit of the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 20, 2023. Aviator Gregory Cole, Canadian Armed Forces Photo

While Canadian defence spending is under closer scrutiny as NATO members meet in Washington, D.C., this week, the federal budget watchdog says Canada is expected to fall further short of meeting its commitment to the alliance than expected.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released an updated analysis of military expenditures and the NATO guideline of 2 percent of GDP spending on July 8.