Canada will boost its defense spending to reach NATO’s 2% of GDP target by March 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday.
The move comes years earlier than planned, as the country responds to growing global threats.
Speaking at the University of Toronto, Carney said the world is at a turning point, and Canada must act to protect itself from hostile states, cyber attacks, and terrorism. He also said Canada has relied too much on the United States for security, while the U.S. is reducing its role.
Canada currently spends 1.4% of its GDP on defence. The new plan will add 9.3 billion Canadian dollars ($6.5 billion) in funding this year. That money will go toward buying submarines, ships, planes, drones, and armored vehicles. It will also improve Arctic security and military readiness.
Much of Canada’s equipment is outdated. Only one of its four submarines is fully operational, and many naval and land vehicles are not in working order.
To fix long-standing delays in equipment purchases, the government will create a new defence procurement agency. It will aim to speed up decisions and strengthen Canada’s defence industry.
Carney said middle powers like Canada must be ready to defend themselves and play a bigger role in global security. His announcement comes ahead of the G7 summit, which Canada will host from June 15 to 17.
NATO secretary general Mark Rutte is also urging member countries to raise spending, with some suggesting targets as high as 3.5% or even 5% of GDP.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Romania deployed fighter jets early Thursday after Russian drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region near the Romanian border, though no airspace violations were detected.
Ukraine and Russia completed another prisoner exchange involving ill and severely wounded soldiers, marking ongoing efforts to ease the human toll of their conflict.
The 3rd CIS Games will take place in Azerbaijan from September 28 to October 8, featuring 246 medal sets in 23 sports disciplines across seven cities, including Khankendi.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Romania deployed fighter jets early Thursday after Russian drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region near the Romanian border, though no airspace violations were detected.
Ukraine and Russia completed another prisoner exchange involving ill and severely wounded soldiers, marking ongoing efforts to ease the human toll of their conflict.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. immigration raids and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, calling for reforms instead of enforcement.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Romania deployed fighter jets early Thursday after Russian drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region near the Romanian border, though no airspace violations were detected.
Ukraine and Russia completed another prisoner exchange involving ill and severely wounded soldiers, marking ongoing efforts to ease the human toll of their conflict.
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