Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce reliance on US defense, Carney says
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Canada boosts defense spending to hit NATO’s 2% target early
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada should no longer send three quarters of its defense capital spending to the United States. Carney added that Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than his Liberal party had previously planned. The increased spending will see new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic. Canada has also been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the U.S., Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. In April, NATO announced that 22 of its 32 members hit the 2% spending target.
Canada will meet NATO’s defense spending threshold of 2% this fiscal year, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Monday.
Carney added that Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than his Liberal party had previously planned.
“I am announcing today that Canada will achieve NATO’s 2% target this year — half a decade ahead of schedule,” Carney said during a speech at the University of Toronto. “Now is the time to act with urgency, force, and determination.”
The increased spending will see new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic purchased and a boost in pay for the armed forced
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“Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,” he added.
“Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly we are too reliant on the US.”
Reliance on US to be reduced
During his speech Carney said that the world was becoming a “darker” place, meaning that Canada needed to reduce its security dependence on the United States.
Since taking office in mid-March, Carney has delivered a series of stark warnings about what he terms the changing nature of US global leadership under President Donald Trump.
“In a darker, more competitive world, Canadian leadership will be defined not just by the strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength,” Carney said.
“The United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its (relative) contributions to our collective security. We should no longer send three quarters of our defense capital spending to America.”
Canada will achieve NATO’s 2% target this year — half a decade ahead of schedule.
In an increasingly dangerous world, we will be ready to protect our people, our sovereignty, and our Allies. — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) June 9, 2025
NATO members increasing defense spending
Carney framed the announcement as a move designed “to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants.”
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In April, NATO announced that 22 of its 32 members hit the 2% spending target. European countries have ramped up their military budgets since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and NATO has set 2% as a bottom line for spending.
Canada has also been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States.
There has been a focus on buying more defense equipment, including fighter jets, from Europe. Carney’s government is reviewing the purchase of US F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Canada vows to meet NATO defense budget target early, then spend more
Canada vows to boost funding for the armed forces and hit NATO’s 2% military spending target this fiscal year. Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Canada was likely in future to devote a greater percentage of GDP on defense. U.S. and other NATO allies have complained for years about what they see as the inadequate level of Canadian military funding. Ottawa spends about 1.4% of its gross domestic product on defense, well below its NATO commitment to 2% by 2030. The Liberal government plans to meet the 2% target by spending an additional C$9 billion ($6.58 billion) this fiscalyear. The money will go toward increasing recruitment, repairing equipment and forging new defense relationships, Carney said in a speech in Toronto. The previous Liberal government last year formally committed to hit the NATO target by 2032.
Royal Canadian Navy submarine HMCS Victoria sails in the vicinity of Esquimalt Harbour while wearing a poppy on its sail in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada November 5, 2021. S1 Kendric Grasby/Canadian Forces/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
A pair of Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-188 Hornets fly with a United States Navy EA-18G Growler during Exercise Maple Flag 51 over Alberta, Canada June 15, 2018. OS Erica Seymour/Canadian Forces/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
TORONTO – Canada, under pressure to spend more on its military, vowed on Monday to boost funding for the armed forces and hit NATO’s 2% military spending target this fiscal year, five years earlier than promised.
Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Canada was likely in future to devote a greater percentage of GDP on defense, given the need to replace outdated equipment and reduce its heavy reliance on Washington.
“Now is the time to act with urgency, force, and determination,” Carney said in a speech in Toronto, reiterating promises to work more closely with Europe’s defense industry.
The United States and other NATO allies have complained for years about what they see as the inadequate level of Canadian military funding. Ottawa spends about 1.4% of its gross domestic product on defense, well below its NATO commitment.
The Liberal government plans to meet the 2% target by spending an additional C$9 billion ($6.58 billion) this fiscal year. The money will go toward increasing recruitment, repairing equipment and forging new defense relationships.
“We think that this proportion of spending relative to GDP is going to go up somewhat,” Carney later told reporters. “That’s important because it will protect Canadians.”
Pressed as to how Canada could afford this at a time of rising budget deficits, Carney cited efforts to cut spending while ruling out tax cuts.
Reuters reported last month that NATO chief Mark Rutte had proposed alliance members should boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP and commit a further 1.5% to broader security-related spending to meet a U.S. demand for a 5% target.
Carney won the April 28 election on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and also to reduce the country’s military reliance on Washington.
Randall Bartlett, deputy chief economist at Desjardins, said the extra spending would increase the budget deficit beyond the roughly C$60 billion Carney’s election platform promised.
“If the government aims to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2030 the deficit will only keep increasing,” he said.
Carney said another reason for Ottawa to act was what he called the decision by the United States to gradually withdraw from the concept of collective security.
“Rising great powers are now in strategic competition with America. A new imperialism threatens. Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu,” he said.
The previous Liberal government last year formally committed to hit the NATO target by 2032. During the election campaign Carney pledged to get to 2% by 2030.
Canada will boost pay for the armed forces and buy new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the sea floor and the Arctic, Carney said, without giving details. REUTERS
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Canada Plans to Hit NATO Spending Target Early, Reduce Reliance on US Defence, Carney Says
Canada will meet NATO’s military spending guideline by early next year and diversify defence spending away from the United States. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that Washington no longer plays a predominant role on the world stage. The announcement means Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned. Canada is about to host US President Donald Trump and other leaders at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe.NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most US allies at NATO endorse Trump’s demand that they invest 5 per cent on their defence needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more. The US is providing a lower degree of security than its allies, Carney said, adding that it was “understandable” that the US was providing a low level of security. “So we are stepping up,” he said.
The announcement means Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned.
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“Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,” Carney said. “Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly, we are too reliant on the United States.”
According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33 per cent of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2 per cent target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO’s target by the end of the decade.
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“Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,” Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto.
Canada is about to host US President Donald Trump and other leaders at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2 per cent target.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most US allies at NATO endorse Trump’s demand that they invest 5 per cent of gross domestic product on their defence needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more.
“We are meeting 2 per cent. And that is the NATO target as it is today,” Carney said at a later news conference. “We will need to spend more.” He said there will be discussions on the increased spending amount and its timeline at the NATO summit.
Carney has said he intends to diversify Canada’s procurement and enhance the country’s relationship with the EU.
“We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America,” Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. “We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.”
Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defence equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney’s government is reviewing the purchase of US F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options.
“We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage. Today, that predominance is a thing of the past,” Carney said in French, one of Canada’s official languages.
He added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States became the global hegemon, noting that its strong gravitational pull became virtually irresistible and made the US “our closest ally and dominant trading partner.”
“Now the United States is beginning to monetise its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security,” Carney said.
Carney later said at the news conference that it was “understandable” that the US is providing a lower degree of security. “So we are stepping up,” he said.
Trump’s calls to make Canada the 51st US state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump.
The prime minister said “a new imperialism threatens.”
“Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu,” Carney said during his speech.
Carney said the long-held view that Canada’s geographic location will protect Canadians is increasingly archaic.
European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. (AP)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early and reduce reliance on US defense, Carney says
Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned. “Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,” Prime Minister Mark Carney says. Canada is about to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Alberta. Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe.“We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America,’ Carney says in a speech at the University of Toronto. He said there will be discussions on the increased spending amount and its timeline at the NATO summit in Europe, and that Canada will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery.
The announcement means Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2% of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned.
“Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,” Carney said. “Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly, we are too reliant on the United States.”
According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33% of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2% target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO’s target by the end of the decade.
“Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,” Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto.
Canada is about to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2% target.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most U.S. allies at NATO endorse Trump’s demand that they invest 5% of gross domestic product on their defense needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more.
“We are meeting 2%. And that is the NATO target as it is today,” Carney said at a later news conference. “We will need to spend more.” He said there will be discussions on the increased spending amount and its timeline at the NATO summit.
Carney has said he intends to diversify Canada’s procurement and enhance the country’s relationship with the EU.
“We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America,” Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. “We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.”
Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney’s government is reviewing the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options.
“We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage. Today, that predominance is a thing of the past,” Carney said in French, one of Canada’s official languages.
He added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States became the global hegemon, noting that its strong gravitational pull became virtually irresistible and made the U.S. “our closest ally and dominant trading partner.”
“Now the United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security,” Carney said.
Carney later said at the news conference that it was “understandable” that the U.S. is providing a lower degree of security. “So we are stepping up,” he said.
Trump’s calls to make Canada the 51st U.S. state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump.
The prime minister said “a new imperialism threatens.”
“Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu,” Carney said during his speech.
Carney said the long-held view that Canada’s geographic location will protect Canadians is increasingly archaic.
European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
Canada plans to hit NATO spending target early, reduce US defence reliance, Carney says
Canada will meet NATO’s military spending guideline by early next year, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday. Carney said Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than it had previously planned. Carney’s government is reviewing the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options. Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defence equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. The announcement of increased spending came as Canada is about to host a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations.
Carney said Canada will achieve NATO’s spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than it had previously planned.
“Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness,” Carney said. “Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly we are too reliant on the United States.”
According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33 per cent of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2 per cent target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO’s spending target by the end of the decade.
“Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,” Carney said.
The announcement of increased spending came as Canada is about to host a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. It also comes as NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2 per cent target.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most US allies at NATO endorse US President Donald Trump’s demand that they invest 5 per cent of gross domestic product on their defence needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more.
Carney has said that he intends to diversify Canada’s procurement and enhance the country’s relationship with the EU.
“We should no longer send three quarters of our defence capital spending to America,” Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. “We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.”
Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defence equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney’s government is reviewing the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options.
Carney said that the US “is beginning to monetize its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its contributions to our collective security.”
“Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu,” Carney said.
Trump’s calls to make Canada the 51st US state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump.
Carney said that the long-held view that Canada’s geographic location will protect Canadians is becoming increasingly archaic.
European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. GRS GRS