As Canada prepares for the upcoming election, party leaders are vocal about their commitment to meeting NATO’s defense spending goals. However, they are pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for a significant increase in military spending. Currently, NATO allies are expected to spend at least two percent of their GDP on defense, but Trump is urging them to raise that figure to five percent.
During a recent meeting in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Trump’s stance, emphasizing that NATO countries need to enhance their military capabilities to address identified threats. While Canada spent 1.37 percent of its GDP on defense last year, it is one of eight NATO members that have not yet met the two percent target.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, who is running for re-election in Montreal, affirmed Canada’s commitment to increasing defense spending. She highlighted the importance of a united front against Russia, especially amid ongoing tensions related to Ukraine. Joly stated, “We all know that we’re living much more in a dangerous world, and in that sense we need to do more.”
Liberal Leader Mark Carney announced that a Liberal government would aim to reach the two percent target by 2030. He also plans to modernize the recruitment process for the Canadian Armed Forces, addressing a shortage of over 14,000 personnel. Carney emphasized the need for improved military procurement and support for Canadian manufacturing.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed the commitment to meeting the two percent target but did not specify a timeline. He suggested that increased trade revenues from negotiations with the U.S. could fund military enhancements. Poilievre stated that Canada would make its own decisions regarding defense spending, independent of Trump’s influence.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pledged to meet the two percent target by 2032, focusing on building affordable housing for military personnel and prioritizing Canadian-made military equipment. Singh stressed the connection between Arctic defense and community investments, saying, “We cannot separate the two.”
The Bloc Quebecois has also called for reaching the two percent target by the end of the decade, while the Green Party advocates for a diplomatic approach with like-minded democracies rather than simply increasing military spending.
As NATO prepares for its annual summit in June, the focus will be on aligning defense strategies among member countries and addressing the growing pressures for increased military spending.