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Prime Minister Mark Carney pledges to shift defence spending away from the US and in direction of the EU.
Canada will meet NATO’s defence spending threshold of two p.c this yr because it shifts spending away from the US and strengthens its relationship with the European Union, in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Carney made the announcement on Monday, warning that in a “darker” world, Canada should reduce its security dependence on the US. In a speech on the College of Toronto, he stated the nation would hit the goal 5 years sooner than anticipated.
Canada has been realigning its defence partnerships to raised align with the EU, which marks a major break from Ottawa’s longstanding reliance on the US. The nation plans to purchase extra defence gear, together with fighter planes, from Europe.
His authorities can be reviewing the deliberate purchases of F-35 jets from the US to evaluate various choices.
“Our navy infrastructure and gear have aged, hindering our navy preparedness,” Carney stated.
“Solely one in all our 4 submarines is seaworthy. Lower than half of our maritime fleet and land autos are operational. Extra broadly, we’re too reliant on the US.”
“The threats that Canada faces are multiplying,” he added.
Carney’s pledge follows related commitments by other NATO members and comes after sustained strain from US President Donald Trump for allies to extend defence spending. More and more, hostile language, together with Trump’s jabs at turning Canada into the 51st US state, has elevated tensions with Ottawa.
Canada spent 1.33 p.c of its gross home product (GDP) on defence in 2023, in response to NATO knowledge.
Since taking workplace in mid-March, Carney has issued a collection of stark warnings about what he describes as a shift in US international management below Trump.
“America is starting to monetise its hegemony: charging for entry to its markets and lowering its [relative] contributions to our collective safety,” Carney stated, criticising Trump’s commerce insurance policies.
“We must always now not ship three-quarters of our defence capital spending to America,” the prime minister added.
He additionally warned that Canada has “been jolted awake by new threats to our safety and sovereignty,” citing Russia and China as key considerations.
Carney framed the rise in defence spending as a strategic necessity “to guard Canadians, to not fulfill NATO accountants”.
In April, NATO introduced that 22 of its 32 members had reached the two p.c spending goal. European international locations, specifically, have ramped up navy budgets within the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and NATO now considers the two p.c threshold a minimal requirement.
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