Canada Reaches NATO Defence Spending Target for First Time in Decades
Historic Milestone Achieved
Canada has reached a major defence milestone by spending about two per cent of its GDP on the military. This marks the first time since the end of the Cold War that the country has met the target set by NATO.
According to NATO estimates released on Thursday, the government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney spent more than $63 billion on defence in 2025.
Allies Increase Pressure
In recent years, Canada has faced growing pressure from its allies, particularly the United States, to significantly increase its military budget.
As a result, the latest figures show that Canada has now aligned with NATO expectations, following years of falling short of the alliance’s benchmark.
NATO Chief Highlights Global Shift
Mark Rutte, Secretary-General of NATO, stated that all member countries have now met the two per cent target for the first time.
He credited this shift partly to strong messaging from Donald Trump, who repeatedly criticized some nations for relying too heavily on others for defence.
Rutte explained that several major economies—including Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Canada—had previously remained well below the required level. However, the current progress shows a clear change in priorities.
Reducing Dependence on U.S. Power
Furthermore, Rutte noted that Europe and Canada had long depended too much on American military strength. Now, member states are taking greater responsibility for their own defence.
Earlier Commitment from Carney
During his leadership campaign, Carney promised to meet the NATO spending goal earlier than planned. He set a 2030 deadline, which was two years ahead of the timeline established by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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