In an interview on Sunday (3/20), Stoltenberg explicitly asked Canada to spend 2% of its GDP to help NATO supply war material to Ukraine.
He then referred to a previous NATO agreement which, since 2014, required allies to increase spending with a 2% GDP target.
“We have an agreement and I expect all allies, Canada as well, to follow through on it – that we should aim for 2% of GDP because we live in a more dangerous world,” Stoltenberg said in an interview. at Rosemary Barton Live.
“But I also welcome the Canadian government’s new emphasis on the need to further increase defense spending,” he added.
The NATO chief has been questioned several times about the level of spending he expects from Canada. Recalling Canada’s defense minister, Anita Anand said this week that she had presented several options to Canada’s cabinet.
“I’m sure Canada will follow up,” Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg continued, Canada’s commitment to NATO is now better than before. Referring to the commitment of 3,400 troops to the NATO Response Force, his leadership of the Battle Group in Latvia and the departure of HMCS Halifax last Saturday as part of the NATO deployment.
On the Canadian side, Defense Minister Anand also briefly told CBC’s Power & Politics last week that Canada has run out of stock of Canadian Armed Forces equipment that can be supplied to Ukraine.
“But, of course, it could be more, and that is also why I think that at the summit next week we will start discussions not only on the immediate response to the crisis in Ukraine, but also on how we should adopt and reorganize deterrence and long-term defense in the wake of this brutal war unfolding in Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said.
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