Former Liberal MP warns of tough times ahead with U.S. over NATO spending target

By Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press on November 7, 2024.

Ret. Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, right, is shown the functions of a microphone and headset while waiting to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence studying a Canadian Armed Forces defence policy update in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

OTTAWA – Retired Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie says Canada will soon face a rough ride from the U.S. for failing to meet its defence spending targets after the dramatic political comeback of president-elect Donald Trump.

Leslie, a former member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s caucus, told the House of Commons defence committee that he sees “no sense of urgency” on the part of the Liberal government to put more resources into the Canadian Armed Forces and meet its NATO defence spending commitments.

But the new senior leadership in Washington will be “looking for quick results,” he says, and he thinks Canada will face a surprisingly tough next few months.

Leslie, who was involved in the renegotiation of NAFTA during the first Trump administration, says defence contributions are linked to trade relations, and Ottawa will soon have to focus on a scheduled review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free-trade pact.

Trudeau pledged at the NATO summit in Washington last summer that Canada will meet the alliance’s target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence by 2032.

Ottawa has said it will meet the target by purchasing up to 12 new submarines, which have not yet been costed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.