U.S. Senators Urge Trudeau to Meet NATO Defence Spending Target

A bipartisan group of 23 U.S. senators has called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure Canada meets NATO’s target of spending at least two per cent of its GDP on defence. This appeal, dated Thursday, warns that Canada risks falling short of its commitments to the alliance amid one of the most severe threat landscapes in history. The letter comes two months before the U.S. hosts NATO’s 75th annual summit in Washington, D.C.

“As we approach the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., we are concerned and profoundly disappointed that Canada’s most recent projection indicated that it will not reach its two percent commitment this decade,” the letter reads. “Canada will fail to meet its obligations to the Alliance, to the detriment of all NATO Allies and the free world, without immediate and meaningful action to increase defense spending.”

Canada’s newly-updated defence policy forecasts $7.9 billion in new spending over the next five years, raising defence expenditure to 1.76 per cent of GDP by the 2029-30 fiscal year.

Despite this, the Liberal government has not definitively committed to meeting NATO’s two-per-cent benchmark, reiterated in an agreement at last year’s summit.

Defence Minister Bill Blair is pushing for additional spending not included in the new defence policy, such as acquiring a new submarine fleet. Blair indicated that these commitments need financial backing and mentioned efforts to secure the extra funding. “We need to do it right, we need to take the time, we’re doing that work now,” Blair said Thursday in Ottawa. He did not provide a timeline for a firm spending commitment but assured that Canada would be a capable ally to NATO.

The focus on the two-per-cent target comes amid ongoing global tensions, with Russia continuing its invasion of Ukraine and testing tactical nuclear weapons as a direct warning to NATO countries. Former U.S. president Donald Trump, who is running for re-election, has raised concerns among allies by vowing not to defend members failing to meet their spending commitments. Additionally, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently suggested raising the spending target to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

The letter was spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, co-chairs of the U.S. Senate NATO Observer Group. Other signatories include Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, as well as Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Tim Kaine of Virginia.

The federal government’s response to these pressures and the upcoming NATO summit will be crucial in determining Canada’s defence strategy and its role within the alliance.