It’s been reported recently that the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, quietly and behind the scenes told some of his NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) counterparts that Canada would “never” reach the alliance commitment of member nations to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. If true, it’s not the kind of thing I was expecting to hear, nor is it the kind of thing that will go down well with the folks living on the other side of the fence in the United States.
It’s important to note that NATO member countries are not required to spend a specific amount of money on defence each year. There is, however, a guideline for member countries to aim to spend at least 2% of their respective Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence by 2024, something agreed upon during the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014. It’s not a legally binding obligation, but rather a target for member countries to work towards.
It’s important to note that not all NATO member countries meet the 2% GDP guideline, and there is variation in defence spending among member countries. In fact, there are currently ten members of the thirty nation alliance that do not currently meet the 2% threshold, with Canada, along with Germany and Italy, numbering among the ten.
Some countries spend more than 2% of their GDP on defence, while others spend less, making he guideline a regular topic of discussion and debate within NATO. Some member countries are expressing challenges in meeting the target due to various economic, political, and strategic factors.
NATO members currently not meeting the 2% guideline are:
| BELGIUM | CANADA | CZECH REPUBLIC | GERMANY | HUNGARY |
| ITALY | LUXEMBOURG | NETHERLANDS | SLOVENIA | SPAIN |
While these countries may not meet the 2% GDP guideline, they still contribute to NATO in various other ways, such as through participation in NATO missions and operations, hosting of NATO facilities, and providing other capabilities and resources to support the alliance’s collective defence efforts. All of the above nations have participated in the support NATO is giving Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion of that country. Canada has done so, as well, training thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, providing artillery, armour, anti-tank weapons, and air-defence systems as well as non-lethal gear like winter uniforms, helmets, night-vision goggles, and MRE’s. (Meals Ready to Eat) Canada also leads a battle group in Latvia, right next door to Ukraine.
Currently, Canada spends 1.32% of its GDP on defence spending, which roughly translates to just over $28 billion a year in real dollars. That’s a lot of money, sure, but defence is an expensive part of town budget-wise. It’s noted that Canada has the fourth-highest GDP in the alliance, so a 1.3% chunk of that is still going to be more real money than other countries spending at 2%. Poland, currently spending at 2.5%, has real-dollar defence investments of just over $17 billion by comparison, despite being a nation of similar population to Canada.
NATO is not Canada’s only alliance. We are also members of the continental defensive arrangement known as NORAD (North American Air Defence Command) with the United States. That system of air defence, stated in the 1950’s, consists of radars stretched across the top of Canada’s land mass to alert us to any airborne intrusions, particularly with Russia in mind. Those radars, and associated technologies, have been updated over the years and we’re now in one of those times where the system needs a huge upgrade. The federal government has earmarked over $40 billion for continental defence over the next few years. That’s expensive stuff.
Canada has recently reached an agreement to purchase 88 F-35 fighters for just over $19 billion. That’s expensive as well.
Icebreakers, frigates, and subs for the navy. The list of major hardware needs is long, and, you guessed it, expensive as well.
Canada, to be sure, could do more. Everyone could. But there’s a certain balancing act between priorities and what Canada views as important. Canada has a social safety net that stands among the best in the world. The United States, on the other hand, spends $1.6 trillion on defence, which is in no way proportionate based upon population and GDP. Yet 40% of its population has no health care coverage.
Canada has never placed itself in the position of global military saviour, and quite rightly so, because we don’t have what it takes to even make the attempt. What Canada has done, however, is step up whenever stepping up was needed, and has done so in a big way. Our contributions to the two world wars of the twentieth century, to the Korean War, and to the mission in Afghanistan, have been significant, noteworthy, substantial, and in retrospect, a point of national pride for anyone cognizant of those efforts. We do the heavy lifting when the circumstances call for it. And in the case of the two world wars, we jumped in right at the beginning, whereas the Americans dithered.
Canada is a good country with good people. We are slow to anger, but once provoked, we’ve demonstrated on more than one occasion the mettle of our resolve to be one of the bastions against tyranny in the world. We’re not perfect, indeed far from it. But when the trumpets sound, Canada has always been there.
We are a nation that values the quality of life of its citizens. That cost money too, a lot of it. And when we spend in social areas, it may have an effect on military spending.
But let me assure you of something.
If the shit hits the fan and the world is in trouble, you can count on Canada, and Canadians, to be there. We may not be the biggest, nor the richest country in the world. But I’d put a Canadian soldier up against any other soldier in the world.
That’s the way we are. We care. And if necessary, we fight.
We’re Canadian. Something I’m proud of.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 