(Ottawa) Accused in an editorial of the wall street journal of being a “free rider” of NATO because of its “pitiful” investments in defense, Canada still refuses to propose a roadmap for reaching the 2% target.
The objective was however reaffirmed, and identified as a floor, last week in the closing communiqué of the Vilnius summit: “We are committed, over the long term, to devote each year at least 2% of our gross domestic product ( GDP) to defence”, it reads.
Recent data released by the political-military alliance puts Canada’s military spending at 1.38% of its GDP – significant progress, but not enough. And unlike future NATO member Sweden, which expects to reach 2% by 2026, the Canadian government has not set a timeline.
“It’s an important goal. We are making progress towards this goal,” Defense Minister Anita Anand said in an interview. She cites figures: 88 F-35 fighters in the order book, 40 billion over two decades to modernize NORAD, 70% increase in spending in the 2017 defense policy.
However, she carefully avoids saying whether or not Canada is committed to reaching the 2% threshold. She also does not want to indicate whether the review of the defense policy, which “is progressing well” and which we will hear about “in the weeks to come”, will include an action plan in this direction.
Disputed accounting
In fact, Minister Anita Anand suggests that the government hopes to convince its NATO partners to review the method of calculating the famous 2%, a long-standing demand. Some observers have already questioned, in particular, the use of GDP as a benchmark.
Few countries can say they have trained 36,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and we want to ensure that these contributions are recognized. Discussions between Canada and its NATO allies continue, and more will be said in the days to come.
Anita Anand, Minister of Defense of Canada
Another element to take into account: it is not by loosening the purse strings that the target will necessarily be reached. The allocated money must be spent. However, the acquisition process is long, and the Canadian Armed Forces are short of personnel.
“We have to have a plan to spend the money on defence. It’s not just a matter of putting a lot of money,” argues M on the other end of the line.me Anand, back from Vilnius, Lithuania, where the NATO summit was held last week.
Canada in the line of sight
It was on the last day of the meeting that the wall street journal published a scathing editorial aimed at Ottawa.
Justin Trudeau was in Lithuania [la semaine dernière] for the annual NATO summit, but it’s a shame that there was no table for the children where he could have sat. This is where his country should be because of Ottawa’s weak commitment to Alliance defence.
Excerpt from the editorial of wall street journal
The editorial team criticizes Canada for having a vision of the military that is more of a “social project” than a “combat force”, citing the example of the element of the mandate letter of Mr.me Anand, which dates from before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it is about combating sexual misconduct.
“We wonder what use this cultural manifesto would have on the Ukrainian front lines,” we laugh.
If the text annoyed Mme Anand, this one hides it well. Instead of reacting to it, she says she is certain that the Canadian population, with a less militaristic tradition than that of the United States, sees the need to reinvest in defence.
“Canadians support us,” she says.
Entry of Sweden: pact with Turkey?
Minister Anita Anand’s office transmitted to the Prime Minister’s office the information that, in the run-up to the Vilnius summit, Canada had concluded a pact with Turkey in order to convince the latter to accept the candidacy of sweden like 32e member of the alliance born in 1949.
According to the Reuters news agency, Ottawa would have agreed to reassess the embargo on arms exports to Ankara in return. Deliveries were halted after Canadian technology was found in Turkish drones used by Azerbaijan against Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Export controls that were imposed on Turkey “for important reasons” are “still in effect”, Justin Trudeau’s office has been told.
“Canada remains committed to the principle that there should be no restrictions, obstacles or sanctions on defense trade and investment between allies,” it added.