Canada to Meet NATO’s Military Spending Benchmark by 2032, Says Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada aims to meet NATO’s defence spending target of 2% of GDP by 2032. The commitment was made during NATO’s annual summit in Washington, amidst increasing calls from allies, particularly the United States, for Canada to raise its military investments.
Canada currently allocates 1.3% of its GDP to defence, well below the 2% NATO target. While the country plans to increase that to 1.76% by the end of the decade, there’s been ongoing pressure from NATO and Canadian business leaders to expedite a clear plan to hit the benchmark.
Despite pledging to invest in key capabilities, such as new submarines, critics expressed frustration over the lack of detailed timelines. Some U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Roger Wicker, highlighted the importance of meeting this commitment, especially in an increasingly unstable global environment. Trudeau, however, questioned the sole focus on the 2% figure, arguing that Canada’s contributions often go beyond mere financial calculations.
This announcement comes at a time when some NATO allies, like Poland, are calling for even higher military spending in response to growing geopolitical threats.