Government has shown NATO Canada can be counted on
Five years ago, the year 2013 marked a lowpoint for Canada and NATO. According to NATO reports, the Conservatives had cut Canadian military spending to an all-time low, below one per cent of GDP.
To add insult to injury, then-prime minister Stephen Harper went a step further and withdrew Canada from NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programs. Canadians and Europeans alike began to question whether Canada truly believed in the transatlantic military alliance.
Fast forward to 2016 when we unveiled Canada’s new defence policy — Strong, Secure, Engaged — reflecting our government’s commitment to build strong international relationships with a once-in-a generation investment in our military. Through our policy, Canada is increasing annual defence spending to $32.7 billion — a rise of more than 70 per cent over the next 10 years. What’s more, strategic new investments in equipment will account for more than 30 per cent of our total defence spending by 2024-25, which well surpasses the NATO target of 20 per cent.
But Canada’s commitment to NATO is about much more than just dollars. Ahead of the recent summit of NATO leaders, Prime Minister Trudeau extended Canada’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) through Operation REASSURANCE for another four years. Canada will continue to lead NATO’s eFP Battle Group Latvia and will also increase the number of Canadian Forces members deployed to Latvia from 455 to 540.
The following day, at the NATO summit itself, the prime minister continued to reaffirm the importance of the alliance by announcing Canada will assume Command of a new NATO training mission in Iraq to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
We are already contributing training teams to NATO’s efforts. This initiative builds on that. As a battle-tested nation, Canada has particular skill in teaching this capability. Leadership of a “Train the trainers” mission, as such missions are sometimes called, is a natural step for us.
I am also proud to say that Canada has righted a wrong and rejoined NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) program that provides the alliance with crucial aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The decision by the Conservatives to pull out of this important program was rightly condemned by our allies.
Since NATO’s creation in 1949, Canada has always answered the call to protect international peace and security as part of the alliance. Canada is not only a founding member but has contributed to every NATO mission since its founding.
After a decade of cuts under the Harper Conservatives, with more than $10 billion slashed from military spending, Canada’s support for NATO is now assured. Our government’s historic investments in the women and men of the Canadian military are a clear demonstration that we deem NATO to be not only a pillar of the rules-based international order, but a cornerstone of Canada’s support for international security.