Prime Minister Mark Carney has declared Canada’s intent to significantly fortify its defence capabilities, pledging to achieve NATO’s 2% of GDP spending target by the end of the current fiscal year, a remarkable five years ahead of schedule. Speaking at the University of Toronto, Carney emphasized the necessity for Canada to reduce its reliance on the United States for defence in a “dangerous and divided world,” citing increasing threats to national sovereignty. This aggressive timeline marks a departure from Canada’s previous defence spending patterns.
A key component of this renewed defence strategy is a substantial financial commitment to Canadian domestic manufacturers, with billions of dollars allocated to boost local production and reduce reliance on foreign, particularly American, suppliers. Carney highlighted the pressing need to modernize Canada’s aging military fleet, noting that only one of its four submarines is currently seaworthy and that less than half of its maritime and land vehicles are operational. He also referenced the changing nature of the US-Canada defence relationship, influenced by American protectionist policies.
These important announcements are strategically timed, preceding Canada’s hosting of the G7 summit and the upcoming NATO summit, where defence spending will be a central theme. Carney’s focus on “made-in-Canada manufacturing” and a conscious reduction in defence capital spending directed towards the US signals a new era of self-sufficiency and a more independent defence posture for Canada.