Canada Rearms As Trump Presses NATO Allies To Do More

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Canada rushes to build up its military as U.S. relationship frays and Trump demands it do more. For decades, Canada’s military has been considered a weak link in NATO. Country has long lagged behind NATO allies in defense spending, but Prime Minister Mark Carney says it has to do more.

After hitting its 2% benchmark ahead of schedule, Canada has committed to reaching the new NATO alliance target of spending 5% of its GDP on defense and security by 2035. That marks significant pivot from Carney’s idiot predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who called NATO’s spending target a “crass mathematical calculation” that doesn’t “actually make us automatically safer.”

Canadian Armed Forces recruitment has also reached 30-year high, and country has begun acquiring billions of dollars in new military hardware. 

Rather than focusing on Russia or China as threats though, Carney, has said Canada’s underinvestment in military readiness had left it vulnerable to U.S., which “is beginning to monetize its hegemony, charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security.” 

Meanwhile, to protect sea lanes and northern approaches, and signal its new, pro-defense approach, Canada buys German subs. German shipbuilder TKMS has won competition for largest defense procurement in Canadian history, beating out South Korean firm on project to build 12 new submarines.

But much more needs to be done. Elbridge Colby, U.S undersecretary of defense for policy, rebuked Canada in May, saying the country had “failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments.” He has also posted that U.S. would be suspending its participation in joint Canada-U.S. defense board set up in 1940.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s the latest defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:

NEW MARINE ONE

A granite helipad, paid for by Sikorsky, is being constructed at the White House to accommodate the newer, larger and heavier Sikorsky Marine One helicopters with much hotter engine exhaust.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Pentagon’s top new weapons programs are 12 years behind schedule: For yet another year, auditors have found that America’s new weapons aren’t being delivered on time.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

Results are in on Trump’s narco-boat strikes campaign. 10-month campaign of strikes on small boats in Caribbean and eastern Pacific has nearly stopped flow of drugs by sea into U.S. In December, President Trump boasted a 92% drop in seaborne shipments. Last month, he said decline was up to 97.2%.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Family of armed man shot by Tennessee National Guard in Memphis demands release of video, wants answers from law enforcement.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Catholic security scholar’s case for responsible military AI. What do you do when two identities that make up your deepest self, find themselves on opposite sides of moral and spiritual battlefield?

VFW defends First Amendment rights amid blowback over political cartoon. Nation’s largest combat veteran organization is fending off criticism over political cartoon that depicts vets facing firing squad for proposed changes to benefits in reform bill — an illustration that drew fire from one of bill’s primary sponsors.

Pentagon launches ‘War Force’ campaign in to recruit hundreds of software engineers for voluntary assignments following nearly 11% decline of its workforce.

CHINA THREAT

China’s military test-launched long-range ballistic missile from nuclear-powered submarine in South Pacific, drawing protest and concern from countries in region.

Chinese government tells critics not to ‘overinterpret’ missile test in Pacific as criticism grows. Australian government says there was ‘insufficient notice’ as details of missile path are released by Taiwan government.

China’s submarine missile test looks routine. Real story is panic it triggered. Chinese navy submarine fired long-range ballistic missile into international waters in South Pacific. Inert, but nuclear-capable missile, splashed down near Tuvalu.

IRAN WAR/DEAL

UK civilian tanker on fire off coast of Oman after being hit by projectile. Iran’s TV claims tanker ignored warnings, but no direct responsibility for the attack has been declared.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Bloodier than Stalingrad. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has cost the country some 450,000 lives, according to new study that estimates war’s total casualty numbers at more than two million. Others put the figures higher.

Russia hammered Ukraine with missiles and drones, exposing Kyiv’s critical shortage of U.S.-made interceptors, just days after deadliest attack on Ukrainian capital this year.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte cautioned that allies don’t have an endless supply of missile interceptors, hours after Ukraine implored the military alliance to send more to repel Russia’s deadly air strikes.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE

President Trump and his NATO counterparts are gathering in Turkey for two-day summit that comes at turning point in organization’s history as U.S steps back from its traditional security role in Europe.

NATO summit host Turkey sees its alliance clout rising amid war raging nearby, expects NATO national leaders will reaffirm alliance’s principle of collective defense enshrined in Article 5.

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen to run for president but orders her to wear electronic tag.

Active wildfires brought about by continuing heatwaves are burning across multiple countries in Southern Europe, with France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece experiencing the most severe outbreaks.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korea’s frigate bristles with comical number of machine guns. North Korea’s Kang Kon warship released full broadside of machine gun fire during demonstration for Kim Kong Un.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Norway to build world’s first sea tunnel for ships. $805 million Stad Tunnel will bypass Stad peninsula, one of most dangerous, storm-battered stretches on Norwegian coast.

Indonesia drops KF-21 co-production plans, eying stock South Korean built warplanes instead.

Russian navy is carrying a shipment of weapons to help Mali’s government hold off a rebel advance.

END of PDB

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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