NATO seeks credible defence spending plans ahead of summit

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said member countries should arrive at next month’s summit with clear and credible plans to meet the alliance’s new defence spending benchmark. The comments add pressure on Canada, which has faced criticism from U.S. defence officials over the lack of a detailed roadmap for future military spending. The alliance agreed to aim for spending equal to 5% of GDP on defencerelated costs by 2035. That target includes 3.5% for direct military spending and 1.5% for defence infrastructure. Rutte said many allies have already increased investment, including Canada and European partners. Canadian officials have said a plan is being prepared for presentation at the July summit in Turkey. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the target could eventually cost the federal government up to $150 billion a year, while current defence spending is about $63 billion annually. The article also notes that tensions between Canada and the United States have widened after Pentagon officials suspended participation in a longrunning bilateral defence forum.