Trudeau Challenges ‘Crass’ NATO Contribution Calculations Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken issue with NATO’s method of calculating Canada’s contribution to the alliance, calling it “crass” and inaccurate. During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trudeau argued that Canada’s true contribution to the alliance goes beyond the amount of money it spends on defense. He highlighted Canada’s participation in NATO missions, its leadership in cyber defense, and its support for Ukraine. “Canada is a committed NATO ally,” Trudeau said. “Our contributions are multifaceted and go far beyond the narrow metric of defense spending.” Trudeau pointed out that Canada has the seventh-largest military in NATO and the third-largest in the alliance’s Response Force. He also noted that Canada has participated in every NATO mission since its founding in 1949. The Prime Minister’s comments come after NATO released a report showing that Canada’s defense spending as a percentage of GDP was below the alliance’s target of 2%. Critics have argued that Canada is not pulling its weight within NATO. However, Trudeau maintains that Canada is a valuable ally and that its contributions should be measured by more than just its defense spending. “The calculation of NATO contributions should be more comprehensive and reflect the full range of our engagement,” Trudeau said. “We believe that our contributions are significant and deserve to be recognized.” Stoltenberg acknowledged Canada’s concerns and said that NATO is working on developing a better way to calculate contributions. “We need to find a way to measure our contributions that is fair and accurate,” Stoltenberg said. “We will continue to work with Canada and other NATO allies to find a solution that reflects the true value of each member’s contribution.”Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to increase defense spending to meet NATO’s target of 2% of GDP by 2032. The move comes amid pressure from allies, who have criticized Canada for not meeting the benchmark.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to increase defense spending to meet NATO’s target of 2% of GDP by 2032. The move comes amid pressure from allies, who have criticized Canada for not meeting the benchmark. Currently, Canada spends about 1.73% of its GDP on defense. Trudeau’s pledge to increase spending would represent a significant increase, and would require the allocation of additional funds from the federal budget. The announcement was made on the final day of the NATO summit in Brussels. Trudeau said that Canada “continually steps up and punches above our weight,” but questioned the relevance of the 2% target for Canada. “We continually step up and punch above our weight, something that isn’t always reflected in the crass mathematical calculation that certain people turn to very quickly,” he said. The 2% target was first set by NATO in 2002, and was formally adopted by all member states in 2006. The target is intended to ensure that NATO members have sufficient resources to meet the challenges of modern warfare. Canada has been falling short of the 2% target for several years, and has been criticized by some allies for not doing enough to support the alliance. The United States, in particular, has been critical of Canada’s defense spending, and has urged the country to increase its contribution. Trudeau’s announcement is a significant step towards meeting the NATO target, and is likely to be welcomed by allies. It remains to be seen, however, whether Canada will be able to sustain the increased spending levels over the long term.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his country’s contributions to NATO on Tuesday, saying that “crass” calculations that focus solely on defense spending do not accurately reflect Canada’s overall value to the alliance. Trudeau’s comments came in response to criticism from some quarters that Canada is not pulling its weight within NATO. The criticism has been particularly vocal in the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on allies to increase their defense spending to 2% of their GDP. Canada currently spends about 1.3% of its GDP on defense, below the NATO target of 2%. However, Trudeau argued that Canada’s contributions to the alliance go beyond financial commitments. He pointed to Canada’s participation in NATO missions in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq, as well as its leadership in the fight against terrorism. “Canada is a strong and committed member of NATO,” Trudeau said. “Our contributions to the alliance are not simply a matter of dollars and cents. We bring a range of capabilities and expertise that are valued by our allies.” Trudeau also said that he is committed to increasing Canada’s defense spending, but he did not provide a specific timeline for doing so. He said that he would work with NATO allies to develop a plan that is “sustainable and responsible.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Trudeau’s comments, saying that Canada is a “valued ally” and that its contributions to the alliance are “significant.” “Canada is a strong and committed member of NATO,” Stoltenberg said. “We appreciate its contributions to our collective security, both in terms of financial support and its military capabilities.”