Why does Canada not meet the 2% NATO target ?

[Mandel]

I'm normally a big supporter of Canada and it's role in the world, but on this point Canada is an embarrassment. Canada only spends 1.4% of GDP on defense, well below the 2% target, and near the BOTTOM of the NATO list of countries. Trudeau, or any Canadian leader, showing up to these European security meetings, and expressing solidarity with Ukraine, just can't be taken seriously on this.

What would it take for Canada to hit NATO’s 2% defence spending target? - National | Globalnews.ca

Experts say getting Canada's defence spending to two per cent of GDP is not as simple as moving money around and will require multiple measures and years of planning.

globalnews.ca

 

[Granite Top]

Trumps right. For years Canada's been dragging its ass with our armed forces and riding the coattails of the US armed forces assuming protection if ever shit hit the fan.

 

[The Oracle]

I once heard Justin answer this by saying that Canada does it's part in other ways.

So it's all good...

 

[Granite Top]

Trumps right. For years Canada's been dragging its ass with our armed forces and riding the coattails of the US armed forces assuming protection if ever shit hit the fan.

Mind you we did try- and legend has it it was so good their military- industrial complex had it permanently grounded.

 

[SchlongConery]

Trumps right. For years Canada's been dragging its ass with our armed forces and riding the coattails of the US armed forces assuming protection if ever shit hit the fan.

Agreed. Canada has not had an effective military for decades. They dither for a decade over simple choices like what fucking airplanes and helicopters to buy. Then when they DO make a decision, the next government cancels the contract. I have a cousin that was a Weapons System Engineer in the Navy. Was involved in the last frigate programme some 20-30 years ago. Said that the equipment choices were obvious but spent 5+ years studying the regional economic benefits, which suppliers had to open "like value" plants in Canada for whatever equipment they were bidding onnsupplying. LOTS of political iterference from MP's, Ministers and the PMO. Said that his team could have spec'd the ships in a year and for 1/3 the budgeted price... never mind the actual pcompleted price.

Same forfighter jets, transport aircraft, the Cormorant SAR and Bell light helicopters etc.

And Canada has both been to pacifist and dependant on Big Brother to the south to protect us if the shit hit the fan.

How ironic that it is our Big Brother who is our ultimate threat. Well until bthe Russians take over the Northwest Passage.

Pollievre has a good plan for the military. Trudeau has no fucking clue about anything mechanical or technical. However, I respect and support him for his support of Ukraine and the principals of standing up for freedom and democracy.

 

[SchlongConery]

Mind you we did try- and legend has it it was so good their military- industrial complex had it permanently grounded.

View attachment 413499

It wasn't as good as its legend. And it would have been out of date by the time it arrived on the flight line.

But I agree that the politics did kill our aerospace industry. It shows how insidious threats can be and coome back to bite you in the ass fifty years later. As is the case if we don't take the Russian threat to our western civilizatiion seriously.

 

[glamphotographer]

More tax on the people but we are going to have to meet it now if not offer more. Fuck we are going to need nukes too.

 

[jalimon]

I think the world should stop fighting. We would be much richer. And alive.

 

[SchlongConery]

I think the world should stop fighting. We would be much richer. And alive.

 

[Frankfooter]

I'm normally a big supporter of Canada and it's role in the world, but on this point Canada is an embarrassment. Canada only spends 1.4% of GDP on defense, well below the 2% target, and near the BOTTOM of the NATO list of countries. Trudeau, or any Canadian leader, showing up to these European security meetings, and expressing solidarity with Ukraine, just can't be taken seriously on this.

What would it take for Canada to hit NATO’s 2% defence spending target? - National | Globalnews.ca

Experts say getting Canada's defence spending to two per cent of GDP is not as simple as moving money around and will require multiple measures and years of planning.

globalnews.ca

Prior to trump, Canada hasn't really needed a large military and its role is largely as a member of NATO.
Traditionally this country has used soft power, aid and diplomacy.

trump is turning it all upside down.

 

[Mandel]

It's a NATO commitment, meeting the goal would show Canada takes the commitment to NATO seriously, which is even more important after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We could have provided more military support to Ukraine as well. This shouldn't depend on Trump or any other leader calling it out. Canada has been called a NATO delinquent and rightly so, unfortunately.

 

[oil&gas]

It's a NATO commitment, meeting the goal would show Canada takes the commitment to NATO seriously, which is even more important after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We could have provided more military support to Ukraine as well. This shouldn't depend on Trump or any other leader calling it out. Canada has been called a NATO delinquent and rightly so, unfortunately.

How many billions of dollars Trudeau has gifted Zelensky? No, we
should not provide more military support to Ukraine again after we
spend more billions on our own defence on top of the billions Trudeau
already squandered.

 

[RZG]

Mind you we did try- and legend has it it was so good their military- industrial complex had it permanently grounded.

View attachment 413499

My Mom worked on the Arrow, did cockpit instrument assemblies. A shame Avro never got to show it`s potential. A real shame.

 

[Mandel]

How many billions of dollars Trudeau has gifted Zelensky. No, we
should not provide more military support to Ukraine again after we
spend more billions on our own defence on top of the billions Trudeau
already squandered.

Except Canada is not under attack, Ukraine is, by a much larger Communist aggressor. It comes down to whether we really not only support democracy, but defend it too. Canada can and should lead by example and work with Europe on increasing support for Ukraine.

 

[richaceg]

More tax on the people but we are going to have to meet it now if not offer more. Fuck we are going to need nukes too.

We can see what deals we can get from Russia and china...because the nukes from the US just went up...25%

 

[boobtoucher]

Why don't you guys ever google anything?

Canada Military Spending/Defense Budget 1960-2025

Military expenditures data from SIPRI are derived from the NATO definition, which includes all current and capital expenditures on the armed forces, including peacekeeping forces; defense ministries and other government agencies engaged in defense projects; paramilitary forces, if these are...

www.macrotrends.net

Our absolute number is pretty competitive. Trudeau has increased military spending from 17B to 26B (about a billion dollars a year). The problem for the 2% goal is that his economy has been excellent, so the additional billions work out to a lower percent of GDP.

We are 7th in total dollars spent (see page 7):

https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2023/7/pdf/230707-def-exp-2023-en.pdf

 

[jalimon]

Except Canada is not under attack, Ukraine is, by a much larger Communist aggressor. It comes down to whether we really not only support democracy, but defend it too. Canada can and should lead by example and work with Europe on increasing support for Ukraine.

Canada knows, like all of Europe, that Putin cannot win this. Because Putin won't stop with Ukraine. Much easier target all around east Europe.

 

[richaceg]

Except Canada is not under attack, Ukraine is, by a much larger Communist aggressor. It comes down to whether we really not only support democracy, but defend it too. Canada can and should lead by example and work with Europe on increasing support for Ukraine.

You simply don't poke the bear....because that bear might turn out to be an asshole bear...

 

[oil&gas]

Except Canada is not under attack, Ukraine is, by a much larger Communist aggressor. It comes down to whether we really not only support democracy, but defend it too. Canada can and should lead by example and work with Europe on increasing support for Ukraine.

How about increasing support of our own military first for our
own security? Ukraine can be fed scraps that fall off the table if
we actually can still afford a sumptuous meal.

 

[oil&gas]

You simply don't poke the bear....because that bear might turn out to be an asshole bear...

I don't care about having to poke the bear if it is called for. The thing
that bothers me is that having given away billions to some foreign country
to poke the bear we now end up having to spend more money not to poke
the bear but to defend against it for our future. We might as well save
that money squandered and spent all of it on national defence.