Hub Podcasts Can Canada even manage to meet its 5 percent NATO spending promise?
Jun 26, 2025
Ann Fitz-Gerald, a leading expert in international security and director at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, dives into Canada's ambitious commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035. She analyzes the significance of this shift within NATO and the implications for U.S. interests in Europe. Fitz-Gerald also discusses the potential for dual-use technologies in defense spending and the strategic challenges Canada faces to meet these commitments, including trade-offs that may impact its economy.
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U.S. Pressure on NATO Spending
- The U.S. pushed NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP due to its desire to reduce burden sharing.
- This shift reflects the U.S. focusing more on the Indo-Pacific and less on European security obligations.
Interlinked Economics and Security
- Trump has reshaped trade and security dynamics, making countries reconsider dependencies.
- Economic prosperity and national defense agendas are now merged and must be addressed together.
Leverage Defense for Economy
- Use defense and security investments as low-hanging fruit to boost economic prosperity.
- Strategically plan to merge defense spending with economic growth objectives.