COLD LAKE, Alta. –
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants European allies to know that when Canada invests in the defense of North America and Canada’s Arctic, they also benefit.
The Prime Minister directly linked Canada’s work alone and with the United States to defend the continent to security in Europe during a press conference Friday at a Royal Canadian Air Force base in Cold Lake, Alta.
The event took place at the end of a visit by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, during which Trudeau showcased some of the investments and activities Canada is doing at home while making its case in Europe.
These include pledges to invest billions of dollars in new military equipment and capabilities, including plans to purchase new fighter jets and upgrade North America’s aging Norad early warning system with Washington. .
“Canada recently announced major investments to modernize our Norad capabilities, which will help strengthen NATO’s northern and western flanks,” Trudeau said.
The assertion came against the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, as well as a growing focus on Arctic security as rapidly rising temperatures make the region more accessible — and prone. to conflicts.
But Trudeau’s comments also coincide with Canada’s continued refusal to significantly increase military spending to meet NATO’s goal that all members allocate 2% of their gross domestic product to defence.
Canada has long touted its many contributions to NATO operations overseas as a better measure of its commitment to the transatlantic military alliance, including the deployment of troops, fighter jets and warships in Europe after the invasion of Ukraine.
But Trudeau suggested that allies must also recognize what Canada is doing closer to home.
“Understanding that Russia is a growing concern for all of us, it is timely for us to share with the Secretary General and with NATO all that Canada is doing through Norad, but also independently to ensure that we are protecting this region,” he added. he said.
“We will continue to lead the defense of North America. But as members of NATO, it is of course perfectly fitting to invite the Secretary General (to Canada) and highlight the work we do as that NATO members protect this region.”
Stoltenberg’s visit included meetings with troops in Nunavut participating in the Canadian Armed Forces’ major Arctic training exercise, as well as a visit to one of the military radar sites that forms the backbone of the contribution from Canada to Norad today.
Built in the 1980s to detect a Soviet attack, radars are now obsolete thanks to advances in Russian missile technology. The Liberals pledged nearly $5 billion over six years and $40 billion over 20 years to upgrade the entire system with the United States
The NATO chief, who also visited a recently opened research station in the High Arctic in Nunavut before flying to Cold Lake base, home to one of the two main aircraft wings of chase from Canada, seemed more than ready to accept Trudeau’s message.
“What happens here is not only important for Canada, but also for the whole alliance,” Stoltenberg said.
“Therefore, we highly commend what Canada has done in this part of the alliance for decades with Norad, with radar sites, with defense capabilities, including what we see here at Cold Lake.”
Yet, in a separate interview with The Canadian Press, Stoltenberg continued his push for Canada to increase defense spending to hit the 2% of GDP mark, which all members first agreed to in 2014.
“Canada has increased its defense spending…and we welcome that,” he said. “But of course we expect the allies to do more. So that’s still a problem, and it will continue to be so until the allies meet the 2% guideline.”
Canada spent 1.32% of its GDP on defense in fiscal year 2021-22, according to a briefing note prepared for Defense Minister Anita Anand in June in anticipation of questions on the subject at the Communal room.
Not only has this put Canada near the rear of the 30-member NATO alliance, but the memo predicts spending will reach 1.59% in 2026-27 Γüá – when all members are expected to spend 2%.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has estimated that for Canada to reach the 2% threshold, it would need to spend between $13 billion and $18 billion more per year over the next five years.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 26, 2022.
With files from Lee Berthiaume in Ottawa