Canada promises to spend 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 in pact with NATO leaders

NATO leaders – including Canada – have approved a plan to considerably increase defense spending across the western alliance to five percent of gross domestic product during the next decade, a decision that gave US President Donald Trump an important political victory.

They gathered in camera in the Netherlands on Wednesday, where the end details and the potential grievances were minced.

The members of the Alliance, however, expected something in return – a fervent commitment of Trump on the NATO self -defense clause, article 5.

High Canadian officials, speaking on the history after the meeting, said the allies seemed to be comfortable with the assurances of the American president, despite his ambiguity in public on the question of knowing if Washington would come to the defense of his allies in crisis.

On his way to the summit, Trump was invited to support article 5, and replied that the self -defense clause had many definitions. In fact, the language is quite clear – to say that an attack on a member is considered an attack on all NATO allies.

After the announcement, Trump was asked again if it was now behind article 5, since NATO leaders agreed to stimulate military funding.

“I stand with it, that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m here,” said Trump. “If I didn’t stand with that, I wouldn’t be there.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte opened the shortened summit by praising Trump for leaving the accusation on the increase in defense expenses.

“For too long, an ally, the United States, has brought too much charge of this commitment – and that changes today,” said Rutte. “President Trump, my dear Donald, you have made this change possible. Your leadership on this subject has already produced a billion of dollars in additional European allies since 2016. And the decisions today will produce billions of dollars for our joint defense.”

A compromise for allies

Passing five percent of gross domestic product, 3.5% for basic military expenses and 1.5 for defense -related infrastructure will take place over the next 10 years.

It is a compromise for allies – including Canada – which find such a difficult increase to swallow.

Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed on Monday in an interview with CNN that the breach of the new defense spending target of five percent of GDP would cost $ 150 billion in the federal treasury per year.

This results in around $ 107 billion in direct military spending, the rest intended for defense infrastructure, such as ports, bases and aerodromes.

Carney noted that the increase in expenses will result in increased security and also increase the domestic economy, creating new industries and new jobs.

“The world is more and more dangerous and divided. Canada must strengthen our defense to better protect our sovereignty, our interests and our allies,” Carney said in a statement at the end of the meeting. “If we want a safer world, we need a stronger Canada.”

What will Canadians think?

Canada has not seen this type of massive increase in military spending since the Second World War or the Korean War, explains Defense Expert Dave Perry, from the Canadian Institute of World Affairs.

That the Canadian public is prepared for him is another matter.

Public opinion had been massively favorable to the achievement of the old target of two percent of NATO.

And Perry said Canadians will have to try to look beyond the fact that it is Trump’s agreement.

“Finally, it is takeoff from the table, which was a lasting and serious irritant with the American government of several administrations,” he said. “I had a former American official of the State Department complaining last night, we asked for years well and no one did anything – until Trump stops asking.”