Canada now ‘the outlier’ in NATO on defence spending: U.S. ambassador

The United States’ ambassador to Canada, David Cohen, says Canada is becoming “the outlier” in NATO following a bipartisan letter from 23 American senators calling on Ottawa to meet the two per cent of GDP defence spending target.

“At the end of 2024, the way projections are looking, Canada will be the only country in NATO that is not spending at least two per cent of its GDP on defence and does not have a plan to get there,” Cohen said in an interview with The West Block host Mercedes Stephenson.

“Canada has moved within NATO from being a bit of an outlier to being the outlier in the entire alliance.”

In Canada’s recent defence policy update, Defence Minister Bill Blair outlined plans for nearly $8 billion in spending for the Canadian Armed Forces over the next five years. However, this would only bring Canada’s defence spending to 1.76 per cent of GDP.

“We know that Canada needs to invest in other capabilities that are not yet included in this year’s budget but are inevitably part of the investments that we’re going to have to make,” Blair said Thursday following the release of the letter.

“It’s important those investments are made well, it’s important that we do the research to find out what exactly are the requirements of our armed forces.”

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed the need to do more to ensure Canada’s Arctic, “NATO’s western and northern flank,” is protected. He called recent announcements on fighter jets and NORAD modernization “well received” by the Americans.

Blair pointed to exploring new purchases like submarines and air defence systems, both strategic priorities linked to improving continental defence as polar ice melts and Canada’s northern coast faces pressure from Russian and Chinese