Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to unveil Canada's defence and security priorities on Monday, ahead of the late June NATO Leaders Summit. Canada is under pressure to significantly increase its military spending, potentially to a new NATO target of 5% of economic output, up from the current 2% GDP target, due to threats from Russia and pressure from the U.S.
Carney to unveil defence, security priorities Monday as Canada under pressure to boost military spending
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to unveil Canada's defence and security priorities on Monday, ahead of the late June NATO Leaders Summit. Canada is under pressure to significantly increase its military spending, potentially to a new NATO target of 5% of economic output, up from the current 2% GDP target, due to threats from Russia and pressure from the U.S.
Trending- 1 March 2022: Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
- 2 Late May (2025): Mark Rutte's statement in Dayton, Ohio.
- 3 Early May (2025): Reuters reported Rutte's two-tier spending plan.
- 4 Last month (May 2025): François-Philippe Champagne's statement in Banff.
- 5 June 5 (2025): NATO defence ministers meeting concluded.
- 6 Sunday (June 8, 2025): PMO released Mark Carney's agenda.
- 7 Monday (June 9, 2025): Mark Carney to unveil defence and security priorities and tour Toronto facility.
- 8 June 24-25 (2025): NATO Leaders Summit at The Hague.
- 9 2030: Liberal Party pledged to hit 2% GDP target.
- Significant rise in financial obligations for Canada
- Potential impact on Ottawa’s fall budget
- Increased defence spending for Canada
- Potential for NATO to be better prepared for long-term confrontation
What: Prime Minister Mark Carney will unveil Canada's defence and security priorities and tour an Armed Forces facility. This comes as Canada faces pressure to increase military spending to meet a potential new NATO target of 5% of annual economic output, up from the current 2% GDP target, ahead of the NATO Leaders Summit.
When: Monday (unveiling priorities), late June (NATO Leaders Summit, specifically June 24-25), Sunday (PMO released agenda), June 5 (NATO defence ministers meeting), Friday (David McGuinty's statement), late May (Mark Rutte's statement in Dayton, Ohio), 2030 (Liberal Party target for 2% GDP), 2024 (NATO Secretary-General’s annual report published in 2025), last month (François-Philippe Champagne's statement in Banff), early May (Reuters report).
Where: Toronto (Armed Forces facility), The Hague (NATO Leaders Summit location), Dayton, Ohio (NATO parliamentary assembly forum), Banff, Alta. (François-Philippe Champagne's statement), Canada, Europe, United States.
Why: Canada is under pressure from NATO and the U.S. (President Donald Trump) to increase its defence spending significantly due to the threat Russia poses as an aggressor in Ukraine, its growing ties with authoritarian powers (China, North Korea, Iran), and to reduce reliance on U.S. military assistance.
How: Prime Minister Carney will unveil priorities and tour a facility. NATO is finalizing a plan for a dramatically increased defence spending target (potentially 5% total, with 3.5% hard military spending and 1.5% defence-related items). Canada plans to increase its spending, though it currently falls short of existing targets. The Liberal Party pledged to hit 2% by 2030.