Canada to spend more on defence, Sajjan says, but non-committal on NATO
OTTAWA — Canada expects to make significant new investments in defence following the forthcoming release of its defence policy review, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Thursday as he met with NATO leaders in Brussels.
But Sajjan was non-committal about the specific issue of Donald Trump’s repeated complaints about NATO members whom the U.S. president has long alleged have failed to pay their fair share of the cost of the alliance.
Sajjan said he spoke with U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis, a strident spokesman for the Trump administration on the issue of NATO spending who on Wednesday delivered a stern ultimatum to member nations.
“America will meet its responsibilities, but if your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to the alliance, each of your capitals needs to show its support for our common defence,” Mattis said.