Canada is on track to meet NATO’s 2 percent defense spending target in the coming years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. The prime minister’s comments come as pressure on Ottawa to meet the target has increased since the US presidential election.
Speaking at NATO’s annual parliamentary assembly in Montreal on Monday, Trudeau said Canada’s investment in the NATO target is mature and achievable. Canada has made that commitment. But more needs to be done. We are on track to meet the 2 percent target in the coming years. Because we know the world is changing. Canada, along with our allies, needs to be prepared for that.
Canada is one of eight NATO members that has yet to meet the 2 percent defense spending target of GDP. But Canada has pledged to achieve the target by 2032.
Trudeau said Canada has added $175 billion to its spending target. According to Canada’s updated defence policy forecast, Canada’s defence spending will increase from 1.37 per cent of GDP to 1.76 per cent by 2030.
However, the parliamentary budget officer said Canada’s plan to meet NATO’s defence spending target is unclear. And the current forecast for military spending increases is based on flawed economic projections.
