NATO head 'fairly confident' Canada will hit new defence spending target

Holly Cabrera · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 17, 2025 6:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says helium is "fairly confident" Canada volition beryllium capable to meet the alliance's higher defence spending target, which volition apt beryllium acceptable astatine the adjacent leaders' acme astatine the extremity of June.

He has said the spending benchmark would astir apt summation to 5 per cent of a country's gross home product.

In an interrogation with CBC's Power & Politics big David Cochrane connected Tuesday, Rutte said the existent 2 per cent people mightiness beryllium capable for the 32 subordinate countries to support themselves today, but "ramping up" the benchmark is indispensable to hole for the adjacent 5 years.

"We person to support ourselves against our adversaries similar Russia but besides China, which is progressively gathering up its equipped forces," Rutte said from the G7 acme successful Kananaskis, Alta.

He said subordinate countries request to guarantee Russian President Vladimir Putin volition "never, ever onslaught us."

His comments travel aft helium praised Canada for processing a program to scope the 2 per cent spending benchmark by the extremity of the existent fiscal twelvemonth successful March.

In May, Defence Minister David McGuinty hinted that the Carney authorities was hoping to transcend its pledge to conscionable that spending target.

WATCH | Rutte connected increasing spending targets: 

Rutte did not conscionable with U.S. President Donald Trump astatine the acme earlier the president made an aboriginal exit. But Rutte said determination is "no doubt" that Trump is "completely committed to NATO."

However, Rutte said Trump expects allies to "step up" their defence spending to lucifer the U.S.

His connection echoes a recurring disapproval from the Trump administration, which has faulted Canada for not pulling its value connected defence spending portion benefiting from the information provided by sharing a borderline with the United States.

Rutte said that expanding the people to marque Canadian and European spending "more equal" to the U.S. would assistance physique a stronger alliance.

Support for Ukraine

Rutte praised Trump for "breaking the deadlock with President Putin by starting these nonstop talks" with the volition of bringing an extremity to the warfare successful Ukraine.

"It has to beryllium the United States, being specified a almighty ally, to person those nonstop talks with the Russian president," helium said.

NATO's caput wide besides commended Canada for supporting Ukraine and noted that confederation members stay committed to supplying the war-torn state with what it needs successful the combat against Russia.

After Russia's deadliest onslaught this twelvemonth connected Kyiv, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced connected Tuesday tougher sanctions against Russia arsenic good arsenic a caller $2-billion bundle for Ukraine to money helicopters, drones and ammunition. His bureau said wealth is going toward armoured vehicles arsenic well.

Canada is besides lending Ukraine $2.3 cardinal to assistance rebuild its infrastructure and nationalist systems. The Prime Minister's Office said the indebtedness volition beryllium repaid by involvement charged connected Russian assets frozen successful Europe.

"Canada so is perfectly stepping up present and doing a batch to enactment Ukraine," Rutte said.