Manitoba Premier Presses Trudeau to Accelerate NATO Spending to Protect Canada-U.S. Trade Relations

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging the federal government to expedite its plan to meet NATO’s spending benchmark to safeguard the Canada-U.S. trade relationship amid potential political changes in the U.S.

After years of criticism from allies, particularly the United States, the Liberal government announced plans to meet NATO’s military investment commitment of two percent of GDP by 2032. However, Kinew believes this timeline is too slow and is calling for Canada to reach the target within four years.

“I want Canadians to see this as a national security issue. It’s an investment in the Canadian Armed Forces, but also an investment in trade,” Kinew said. “If we don’t meet our NATO responsibilities, it will impact the renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and our relationship with the U.S.”

The premiers have been discussing the Canada-U.S. relationship at the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax, focusing on the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston emphasized the importance of maintaining strong trade relations with the U.S., which buys about three-quarters of Canada’s exports.

Kinew stressed that defense spending should be seen as a trade issue, urging the federal government to fulfill its responsibilities. “If we don’t hit that two percent target within the next four years, it will become a trade irritant,” he said.

Premier Doug Ford also supports accelerating the spending timeline to maintain favorable relations with the United States. Canada currently allocates 1.3 percent of its GDP to military spending, with plans to reach 1.76 percent by the end of the decade. However, alliance members have been pressuring Canada to meet the two percent target.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized NATO members for not meeting spending guidelines and suggested that non-compliant countries should not expect U.S. protection. In contrast, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen expressed satisfaction with Canada’s proposed timeline under the Biden administration.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, however, has refrained from committing to the two percent target, citing fiscal constraints. “I make promises that I can keep, and right now, our country is broke,” Poilievre said. “Every financial commitment I make will be carefully calculated.”

The push to accelerate NATO spending underscores the broader concerns among Canada’s premiers about maintaining robust trade links with the U.S., regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.