Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has privately informed NATO officials that "enduring" shortfalls in his country's defense budget mean the country will never meet the alliance's defense spending target, according to a Pentagon document leaked through the Discord messaging app.
The document's authors conclude that "widespread" military deficiencies in Canada are causing problems with security partners and allies and that "enduring" shortfalls caused the Canadian Armed Forces to assess back in February that it would not be able to "conduct a major operation while simultaneously maintaining its NATO battle group leadership [in Latvia] and aid to Ukraine," reports The Washington Post, which obtained the file.
Further, the document's authors said the situation won't "likely" change without public opinion shifting.
Trudeau did not respond directly when he was asked this week whether he made the comments contained in the document, telling reporters in Ottawa that "I continue to say, and will always say that Canada is a reliable partner to NATO, a reliable partner around the world."
He also said the Canadian government will ensure that the country's military will have what it needs.
The United States and Canada share the responsibility for defending the North American continent through their partnership in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Washington has long been pressing Canada to boost defense spending and upgrade its military infrastructure and capabilities in the Arctic because of the growing threat from Russia and China.
The dissatisfaction is shown in the document, with its writers noting that "widespread defense shortfalls hinder Canadian capabilities while straining partner relationships and alliance contributions."
The document bears the seal of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and also notes that Germany is worried about whether Canada's military can continue to help Ukraine while meeting its pledges to NATO.
It also said that Turkey is "disappointed" by the "refusal" of the Canadian military to support humanitarian aid transport to the country after the massive earthquake there in February, and that Haiti is "frustrated" by the reluctance from Ottawa to lead an international security mission to its nation.
Canada has provided Ukraine with more than $1 billion in military aid since Russia's invasion in February 2022, reports The Post. This has included armored vehicles, a surface-to-air missile system sourced from the United States, ammunition, and eight German-made Leopard II tanks, which were sent to Poland to deliver to Ukraine.
The Canadian Armed Forces have also trained more than 36,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel since 2015, along with leading NATO's battle group in Latvia.
However, the document says some NATO allies are "concerned" that Canada has not followed up on a pledge last year to increase military deployments to Latvia, and that NORAD finds the Canadian Armed Forces lacks "significant Arctic capabilities, and modernization plans have not materialized despite multiple public statements."
A Pentagon spokesperson, speaking on the condition of anonymity, would not comment directly about the leaked document but told The Post that the bond between the United States and Canada remains close and that Canada "is a reliable friend and a steadfast ally."
The document's date was obscured but refers to events in February. President Joe Biden and Trudeau discussed NORAD modernization and defense spending during their meeting in Ottawa in March.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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