The Canadian Prime Minister has acknowledged a shift in NATO defense spending, crediting President Trump with years of pressure that has prompted Canada and European allies to take on a greater share of the alliance's security burden.
Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, the Prime Minister said he spoke with President Trump before the gathering and told him that NATO members increasingly recognize the need to boost military spending amid continued security threats from Russia.
The Prime Minister stated that President Trump's long-standing push for allies to spend more on defense is producing results, with countries realizing they need to take more responsibility and seeing the direct threats.
He noted that the president is looking for a shift of the burden within NATO, which is happening and gaining momentum, according to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister's remarks mark a notable shift in tone from previous criticism of President Trump over trade, tariffs, and U.S.-Canada relations.
Canada has been increasing its defense spending, with new investments in a submarine procurement program, a satellite constellation for secure Arctic military communications, and a contract for Joint Strike Missiles for Canada's future fighter aircraft.
The Prime Minister said Canada was spending around 1.4% of its gross domestic product on defense when his government took office and is on track to reach 4% before the end of the decade under NATO's accounting standards.
NATO leaders agreed to a new goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense and security by 2035, more than doubling the alliance's longstanding 2% benchmark.
Larger nations like Britain and France have also pledged to move toward the 5% target, but currently spend well below that level, raising questions about how aggressively the Trump administration will pressure other major allies to accelerate their defense spending.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed the Prime Minister's assessment, saying President Trump had accomplished what multiple U.S. presidents had sought for decades – to equalize defense spending between Europe and the United States.
