Canada is spending 5 % of GDP to defense by 2035 in an agreement with NATO leaders

NATO leaders, including Canada, have agreed to a plan to significantly increase defense spending across the Western coalition to five percent of GDP over the next decade, a decision that gave US President Donald Trump a great victory in politics.

They gathered behind closed doors in the Netherlands on Wednesday, where the final details and potential grievances were out.

However, coalition members expected something in return-a strong commitment to Trump on the condition of self-defense in NATO, Article 5.

Senior Canadian officials, speaking about the background after the meeting, said that the allies appeared comfortable with the delivery of the US President, despite his strengthening in public places on whether Washington would defend its allies in a crisis.

On his way to the top, Trump was asked whether he supports Article 5, and he answered that the condition of self -defense has many definitions. In fact, the language is completely clear – saying that the attack on one member is an attack on all NATO allies.

After the announcement, Trump was once asked whether he would now stand behind Article 5, given that NATO leaders agreed to enhance military financing.

“I stand with her, for this reason I am here, and that’s why I am here,” Trump said. “If I don’t stand with her, I will not be here.”

NATO Secretary -General Mark Retty opened the short summit by praising Trump to lead the charge to increase defense spending.

“For a very long time, I carried one ally, the United States, the burden of this commitment – and this is changing today,” Root said. “President Trump, dear Donald, has succeeded in this change. Your leadership has already produced trillion dollars of additional spending from European allies since 2016. The decisions will produce other trillion today for our joint defense.”

A compromise of the allies

The transition to five percent of GDP, 3.5 percent of the basic military spending and 1.5 for defense infrastructure will be held over the next ten years.

This is a compromise of the allies – including Canada – who find such a large increase that is difficult to swallow.

Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed on Monday during an interview with CNN that achieving the goal of the new defense spending of cost five percent of GDP, the federal treasury is $ 150 billion annually.

This translates into about $ 107 billion in direct military spending, with the rest of the defense infrastructure, such as ports, bases and airports.

Carney pointed out that increasing spending will mean increasing security and also strengthening the local economy, creating new industries and new functions.

“The world is increasingly dangerous and divided. Canada must enhance our defense in order to protect our sovereignty, interests and allies,” Carney said at a statement at the end of the meeting. “If we want a safer world, we need Canada stronger.”

What will the Canadians think?

Defense expert Dave Perry, from the Canadian World Affairs Institute, says Canada has not seen this kind of massive military spending since the Second World War or the Korean War.

Whether the Canadian public is ready because it is another issue.

Public opinion was very supportive to strike the old NATO goal by 2 percent.

Perry said that the Canadians would have to try to look at the fact that this is the Trump deal.

“This finally reduces the table, it was always always and dangerous with the United States government for multiple departments,” he said. “I had a former US foreign official complaining last night. We asked well for years and no one did anything – until Trump stopped the question well.”