Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, has called on Canada and other NATO countries to reach the alliance’s military spending target of 2% of GDP “as rapidly as humanly possible.” Speaking on the sidelines of the Liberal cabinet retreat in Halifax, Sullivan addressed Canada’s recent commitment to meet this threshold by 2032.
While welcoming Canada’s “historic” pledge to increase military spending, Sullivan emphasized the Biden administration’s desire to see faster progress. He noted that under Biden’s leadership, the number of NATO countries meeting or exceeding the 2% target has grown from 9 to 23 out of 32 member states.
The 2% guideline, established at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales, aims to ensure the alliance’s military readiness and capacity. Canada has historically lagged behind most NATO allies in defense spending, with expenditures below 1% of GDP during Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent commitment to reach the 2% target by 2032 comes after criticism from high-ranking US Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, who accused Canada of inadequate military spending.
The Canadian military has suggested that acquiring new submarines and upgrading its tank and light-armored vehicle fleet could help achieve the spending goal. However, a detailed plan has yet to be announced.
Canada may even fall farther behind as some NATO allies are already considering raising the target to 2.5% to better address growing security challenges faced by member nations.
Sullivan’s visit to Halifax occurred en route to China for high-level meetings amidst tense US-China relations. He also addressed the potential for coordinated approaches between the US and Canada on issues such as tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
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