Canada steps back from U.S. protection and will raise its military spending to 2% of GDP.

Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister, announced on Monday in Toronto that his country will significantly increase its military spending. The budget allocated for defense will reach 2% of GDP in the current fiscal year. Last year, the percentage was 1.3%. The additional funding in this area would amount to around 9.3 billion Canadian dollars (about 6.8 billion US dollars). “The threats facing Canada are multiplying,” Carney stated.

Since 2014, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has required its members to keep military spending at 2% of GDP. Canada has faced numerous criticisms for not reaching this figure. Carney had committed during his campaign to meet this target by 2030 at the latest, but on Monday, his government expedited the decision. In a context of hostility with Washington, the Canadian Prime Minister emphasized that his country can no longer rely, as it has for decades, on the protection of the United States. “The United States is beginning to monetize its hegemony, charging for access to its markets and reducing its contribution to our collective security,” he expressed.

Carney insisted on the increasing threats to his country, referencing “hostile powers, including foreign governments.” He also mentioned terrorist groups and cyber attacks. Carney made it clear that Canadians can no longer count on their geographical location to protect them from such threats.

One of the main pillars of the Liberal government’s plan is a strategy to procure more military products manufactured in Canada. The list is extensive, ranging from ammunition and troop transport vehicles to drones, software programs, and communication equipment. Currently, three-quarters of these acquisitions are carried out with American companies. There will also be a priority to maintain or build infrastructures in various locations across Canada, including the Arctic region.

Another pillar involves increasing recruitment in the Armed Forces through better salaries and benefits. Additionally, the plan includes diversifying defense ties with other countries in order to reduce dependency on the United States. In this regard, Carney stated: “It is time for Canada to chart its own course, to reassert itself on the international stage. It is time to defend our values with those who share them.”

Carney finally took the step on Monday, but discussions related to military spending among Western allies are already considering higher figures. For several months, Donald Trump has been urging NATO members to allocate 5% of GDP for defense. On June 6, Mark Rutte, the Secretary-General of the organization, said that the request from the U.S. president has “broad support” among alliance members. The next NATO summit will take place on June 24 and 25 in The Hague. Meanwhile, the G7 leaders’ meeting will occur in the Canadian town of Kananaskis (Alberta province) from the 15th to the 17th of this month.