NATO head urges Canada, other allies to do more on defence commitments

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says he appreciates Canada's commitments so far, but expects all allies "to do more" and follow up on pledges to spend at least two per cent of gross domestic product on defence.

Stoltenberg stopped short of explicitly asking for Canada to hit that mark in its upcoming federal budget, referring instead to previous NATO agreements dating back to 2014 that commit allies to increase spending and focus on a GDP target of two per cent.

"We have an agreement and I expect all allies, also Canada, to follow up on that — that we should aim at two per cent of GDP, because we live in a world which is more dangerous," Stoltenberg said in an interview Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live.

"I welcome the renewed focus from the Canadian government on the need to further increase defence spending," Stoltenberg told guest host Catherine Cullen.

The NATO head was asked repeatedly about the level of spending he hoped to see from Canada, given Defence Minister Anita Anand saying this week that she was putting forward several options for spending to cabinet. 

Anand also told CBC's Power & Politics this week that Canada had "exhausted" the inventory of equipment in the Canadian Armed Forces that could be supplied to Ukraine.

"I'm confident that Canada will follow up," Stoltenberg said.

Questions over Canadian spending come as NATO leaders are set to meet next week to discuss the war in Ukraine, as well as the future of NATO strategy in Europe. Stoltenberg said Canada had stepped up to aid the alliance, noting the commitment of 3,400 troops to NATO's response force, its leadership of a battle group in Latvia and Saturday's departure of HMCS Halifax as part of a NATO deployment.

"But, of course, there is a need to do more, and that's also a reason why I believe that at the summit next week, we will also start a discussion not only about the immediate response to the crisis in Ukraine, but also how we should adopt and to reset our deterrence and defence for the longer term as a result of this brutal war that is taking place in Ukraine."

Stoltenberg said NATO had a dual responsibility in the situation: supporting Ukraine, but also ensuring the conflict did not spread further.

Concern about potential escalation has been a constant theme from the United States and NATO more broadly since the start of the conflict in late February.

Asked whether NATO could be involved in securing corridors for humanitarian aid or evacuation, Stoltenberg said it was Putin who was responsible for the brutality of the war.

"But NATO will not be present on the ground and [will] not send in planes in the Ukrainian airspace, because that will most likely trigger a full-fledged war between NATO and Russia."

Derek Chollet, a senior adviser in the U.S. State Department, echoed that sentiment in an interview that aired Sunday.