16.55°C Vancouver

Nov 25, 2024 5:54 PM - The Canadian Press

Justin Trudeau defends spending record on military amid fresh criticism

Share On
justin-trudeau-defends-spending-record-on-military-amid-fresh-criticism
He said the country is now on a "clear path" to spend the equivalent of two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032, something Canada committed to spend annually at the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his government's record on supporting national defence, following fresh criticism that Canada is failing to live up to its NATO defence-spending commitments.

Speaking at the 70th annual session of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Montreal, Trudeau said his government stepped up "big time" after it came to power.

He said the country is now on a "clear path" to spend the equivalent of two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032, something Canada committed to spend annually at the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The Trudeau government is coming under renewed criticism from U.S. lawmakers for falling behind what other alliance members spend, with Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) saying at the Halifax International Security Forum over the weekend that Canada has to do better.

President-elect Donald Trump has bristled over other countries failing to meet the two per cent target, and in 2018 said it should be raised to four per cent.

Canada consistently ranks at the back of the pack among NATO allies when it comes to how much it shells out on its military as a share of its GDP, and is only expected to hit 1.37 percent of GDP this year, according to NATO estimates from the summer.

Latest news

softball-excitement-in-surrey-team-canada-takes-on-new-zealand-and-ukraine-in-canada-cup
BCJul 08, 2025

Softball excitement in Surrey, Team Canada takes on New Zealand and Ukraine in Canada Cup

The Canada Cup has begun at Softball City in Surrey. This is the 30th edition of the Canada Cup and Team Canada, fresh from its gold medal performance at the Pan-American championship in Columbia, will play two matches in Surrey. The Canadian women's team will face New Zealand at 6 p.m. today and then Ukraine at 8:30 p.m. The final match of the tournament will be played on Sunday. Apart from the Canadian team, strong teams like Czechia, Greece, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Israel, Triple Crown Colorado and Team BC are also participating in the tournament. Today, players from Team Canada were a
WorldJul 08, 2025

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya to be hanged in Yemen on July 16

Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is likely to be hanged in Yemen on July 16. 37-year-old Nimisha is originally from Kerala. She was convicted of the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi. According to the report, Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a social worker who is in talks with government officials and Talal's family in Yemen, confirmed that a letter has been issued to prison authorities, in which the execution has been fixed for July 16. He said that options are still there and the Indian government can intervene to save her life. Nimisha started a clinic with Talal in 2015 but soon they had dif
WorldJul 08, 2025

USA: Four members of a Hyderabad family die in road accident

Four members of an Indian family died in a road accident in Texas, USA on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Tejaswini, Sri Venkat and their two children. The family belonged to Hyderabad. According to information, a mini-truck hit their vehicle, after which the car caught fire. The accident took place in Greene County. The family had gone to Dallas for a vacation. They were returning after meeting their relatives in Atlanta when the accident occurred. Authorities confirmed that all four victims died on the spot. Arrangements are being made to send their bodies to Hyderabad for c
icc-issues-arrest-warrants-for-taliban-leaders-over-persecution-of-women-and-girls
WorldJul 08, 2025

ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of women and girls

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Tuesday for the Taliban’s supreme leader and the head of Afghanistan’s supreme court on charges of persecuting women and girls since seizing power nearly four years ago. The warrants also accuse the leaders of persecuting “other persons non-conforming with the Taliban’s policy on gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.’” The warrants were issued against Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhunzada and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Ab
over-1-million-in-property-damages-after-vandalism-spree-in-alberta-town-rcmp
AlbertaJul 08, 2025

Over $1 million in property damages after vandalism spree in Alberta town: RCMP

Mounties say a man has been charged with causing over $1 million in damages in a vandalism spree in a rural Alberta town. Vermilion RCMP say officers received a complaint Sunday that a provincial government building and six sheriffs vehicles were damaged. They say officers arrived to find windows shattered in the building and in the vehicles. Windows in the town's courthouse were also broken and drive-thru display screens at a nearby McDonald's were damaged. The 23-year-old accused faces charges of mischief and break-and-enter and has been remanded into custody. Vermillion is

Related News