HALIFAX — The Halifax International Security Forum once again gathered influential minds from around the world on Friday, where discussions centered on global security challenges and national defense strategies. Yet this year's gathering, which brings together top political leaders, defense officials, and policy analysts, also became the stage for some pointed criticism directed at Canada’s military spending plans, particularly from U.S. Republican Senator Jim Risch.
During his remarks, Risch, who may soon head the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, articulated his concerns about Canada’s commitment to meeting NATO's military spending target. He highlighted Canada's failure to achieve the expected 2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defense, contrasting it with NATO's outlined commitments. “My good friends in Canada say, ‘We’re working on this.’ And we say, ‘What does this mean?’ And they say, ‘We’re kind of looking at (meeting the spending goal) by 2032,’” Risch commented, adding, “You would get a very large guffaw from [Donald Trump]... talking about 2032. It’s got to be more immediate.”
Risch’s sentiments resonate with the broader frustrations felt by many NATO members concerning military expenditure. According to NATO statistics, Canada is projected to spend about 1.37% of its GDP on its military, making it one of the nine alliance members failing to meet the minimum requirement this year. On the contrary, this figure is expected to rise but remains shy of the target, with estimates putting the military spending at 1.76% by 2030.
Canada's Defense Minister Bill Blair acknowledged the pressure but presented the government's attempts to increase defense funding, asserting the need for "good value" from investments. “When our allies say they want us to meet the commitment, I’ve told them the answer is ‘Yes,’ and I’ve told them you’re pushing on an open door,” Blair promised, underscoring the government's commitment to defense upgrades.
Highlighting the backdrop of Risch's remarks, the Canadian government had previously committed at the NATO summit to having "a credible and realistic plan" to spend 2% of GDP on military by the stipulated 2032 deadline. This commitment includes the purchase of up to 12 new submarines and the modernization of existing military infrastructure. Nevertheless, criticisms have been leveled at the timeline, with retired Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie emphasizing the apparent “no sense of urgency” from the government during the House of Commons defense committee meetings after the U.S. elections.
Risch's comments come at a time of heightened global tension, especially due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The necessity for Canada to ramp up its defense capabilities is not just internal but is also pressed upon by the changing international security dynamics. Canada has been facing mounting calls, particularly from allies, for increased financial contributions to support military initiatives, especially those aimed at helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.
At the conference, Peter Van Praagh, the president of the forum, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of continued support for Ukraine. “If Russia gets away with this naked aggression, we are entering a world where might makes right. That’s a world not safe for anybody,” he stated.
Defence Minister Blair pointed out the procurement processes as another challenge, noting, “There’s a lot in some of our procurement processes where we’ve really slowed down.” He mentioned Canada’s commitment to replace the CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft with Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon and revealed the arrival of surface-to-air defense systems sent to Ukraine to bolster its military capabilities against missile threats from Russia.
Yet for all the commitment from the defense minister, there remains skepticism. Nicolas Todd, attending the forum as the vice president of government relations with the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, stressed the need for more detailed spending plans, criticizing the vague projections of meeting NATO commitments without tangible strategies. "What we've seen so far is just the expectation to hit two percent; that's not really solidified planning," he remarked.
Day two of the Halifax International Security Forum saw prominent figures from around 60 countries come together, fostering discussions on maintaining security and supporting democracy globally. Top officials from these countries attended panels to strategize and address the multifaceted challenges facing international relations today. Amidst the talks on defense and security, the overarching theme continued to loop back to the urgent need for countries like Canada to bolster their military expenditure effectively and efficiently.
Through all the voices and discussions, the 16th annual Halifax International Security Forum highlighted the complexity of national defense strategy among allies. The conversations will likely continue to steer the direction of not just Canadian military funding, but also how NATO countries collaborate to face common threats.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 22, 2024.
— With files from The Associated Press.
