Tuesday, December 23, 2025
ADVT 
National

NATO leaders agree to spend at least two per cent of their countries' GDP on defence

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jul, 2023 10:05 AM
  • NATO leaders agree to spend at least two per cent of their countries' GDP on defence

NATO leaders have pledged to spend more on national defence, even as Canada and others are failing to meet the previous target.

A statement released this afternoon in Vilnius, Lithuania, says NATO members pledge to make two per cent of GDP the minimum spend each year, with one-fifth of that going to equipment.

The allies say they acknowledge that more is needed urgently to meet their commitments as members of the military alliance.

Only about a third of the 31 members are spending two per cent or more on defence.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas says her message to allies is that the threat from Russia is real and that more is needed.

She and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met earlier today, and she thanked him for Canada's commitment to send more troops and more money to a NATO mission in Latvia.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Funeral for 2 officers shot and killed in Edmonton

Funeral for 2 officers shot and killed in Edmonton
The funeral for Const. Travis Jordan, who was 35, and Const. Brett Ryan, who was 30, is planned to be held in the afternoon at the home arena for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The service is not open to the public but there will be a livestream, which is to be broadcast in an outdoor plaza near the arena.

Funeral for 2 officers shot and killed in Edmonton

Border crossings returning to pre-pandemic hours

Border crossings returning to pre-pandemic hours
The changes will take effect on March 31. The border agency first restricted hours at land border crossings in April 2020, closing many points of entry early and stopping 24-hour service at seven crossings.

Border crossings returning to pre-pandemic hours

Audit finds major barriers on planes, trains

Audit finds major barriers on planes, trains
Auditor general Karen Hogan says in the report that Via Rail and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority have made accessibility improvements over the last several years, but serious gaps still remain.

Audit finds major barriers on planes, trains

Budget to include rebate to help with groceries

Budget to include rebate to help with groceries
The NDP had called on the federal government to extend the measure. In the lead up to the budget, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has promised targeted inflation relief for low-income Canadians.

Budget to include rebate to help with groceries

PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral
The stay at the Corinthia London hotel became the subject of public debate last fall when media honed in on the details of the $400,000 trip, after obtaining documents through access-to-information requests.

PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

Kamloops nation gets $12.5M for healing centre

Kamloops nation gets $12.5M for healing centre
Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu told a crowd in Kamloops, B.C., that the nation has led the way in opening the eyes of the country to the truths that were always known to Indigenous Peoples.

Kamloops nation gets $12.5M for healing centre