Canada is expected to provide more details about its plan to meet defence spending targets, in an effort to quell concerns that have dogged the prime minister during this week’s NATO summit in Washington, D.C.
NATO allies have agreed to spend at least the equivalent of two per cent of their national gross domestic product on defence but Canada has long fallen short.
A senior government official speaking on background said Canada will provide a timeline to reach the funding goal on Thursday, along with more information about its plan.
Defence Minister Bill Blair suggested a plan was coming earlier this week on the margins of the summit. American politicians also alluded to Canadian promises during meetings with the prime minister.
Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate’s armed services committee, said he spoke to Trudeau as he called out Canada on the Senate floor for not meeting its commitments.
“I was able to meet with Prime Minister Trudeau just a few moments ago and was glad to hear him say that an announcement will be made from our friends in Canada … about a new plan to more quickly reach that two per cent goal,” Wicker said Tuesday.
“And I call on him to fulfill that statement that he made to us in private.”
Trudeau began his week in Washington trying to deflect criticism rather than releasing the plan. In a Tuesday speech, the prime minister said the Liberal government has been following through on promises to drastically increase defence spending since it came into power.
Canada’s defence budget has grown by more than 57 per cent since 2014, and it is estimated at $29.9 billion for this year. Only the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Turkey spend more in terms of real dollars.