Canada expects to reach NATO’s defense spending target by 2032, Trudeau says

Canada expects to increase its defense spending to the NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product by 2032, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday, in Ottawa’s first timeline commitment to meet the target amid mounting pressure from the United States and other allies.

“Canada fully expects to reach NATO’s 2% of GDP spending target by 2032,” Trudeau told reporters in Washington, where he is attending a summit of NATO leaders.

Ottawa has been under pressure from Washington to boost defense spending. In May, US senators wrote to Trudeau, urging him to increase defense spending to the NATO target.

Canada currently spends about 1.4% of GDP on defense and, in a defense policy update in April, announced plans to raise military expenditure to 1.76% of GDP by 2030.

“We have built in a regular cycle of review in Canada’s defense, including a new defense policy update in 2028. Through that process, we will continue to explore opportunities that will further increase defense spending,” he said.

The defense ministry said Canada will invest in “the right mix of these additional capabilities” outlined in the April policy update to reach the 2% target by 2032.