The Pentagon said Monday it will pause participation in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, the principal strategic forum for Canada-U.S. defense cooperation, after accusing Canada of failing to contribute enough to its own defense.
Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby announced the pause on social media, indicating that divisive rhetoric from Canadian officials prompted the U.S. to reassess its strategic partnerships.
“A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments,” Mr. Colby posted on X. “Delivering on shared continental defense begins by recognizing our shared geography. Only by investing in our own defense capabilities will Americans and Canadians be safe, secure, and prosperous.”
He attached a transcript of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January speech at Davos, Switzerland, in which he declared the end of the rules-based world order established at the end of the Cold War.
The Permanent Joint Board on Defense was established in 1940 under President Franklin Roosevelt, making it the oldest bilateral defense institution in North American history. The board cooperates on Arctic security and continental defense planning.
A pause in U.S. participation is unprecedented in the board’s history and signals a rupture in U.S.-Canada relations.
Mr. Carney enraged President Trump this year by traveling to China to sign a “strategic partnership” with Beijing. The prime minister met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and signed agreements that would allow Chinese-made electric vehicles to be sold in Canada.
Mr. Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canada in response.
The pause could also be a pressure tactic to get Canada to increase its defense spending. Ottawa spent $63 billion, or about 2% of its GDP, on defense during the last fiscal year. That’s nearly double Canada’s defense spending in 2014, but well below the NATO spending target of 3.5% of GDP.
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