Trudeau is the woke weak link in the West’s defences
Say what you want about former US President Donald Trump, but his insistence that all 31 Nato member states meet a 2 per cent target of GDP spending on defence was wise. This simple, straightforward request ensured each member was firmly committed to playing an equal role in this important military alliance. They would defend the safety and security of democratic countries from rogue states and totalitarian nations as a strong, united and cohesive unit.
One Nato member apparently isn’t willing to pull up its bootstraps when it comes to meeting the defence spending target. Embarrassingly, it’s my country - Canada.
In an April 19 piece in the Washington Post, a “leaked secret Pentagon assessment” reportedly stated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau privately told Nato officials that Canada will never meet this target. The anonymous authors also suggested that Nato members and allies have serious concerns about various deficiencies in Canada’s military.
“Widespread defence shortfalls hinder Canadian capabilities,” they wrote, “while straining partner relationships and alliance contributions.”
According to the Post’s Amanda Coletta, Germany has expressed concern whether Canada “can continue to aid Ukraine while meeting its Nato pledges.” Turkey is apparently “disappointed” by Canada’s “refusal” to support transporting humanitarian aid after its terrible earthquake in February. Haiti is reportedly “frustrated” by Canada’s decision not to lead a multinational security mission in the Caribbean country.
Oh, and if there are any doubts about the Pentagon assessment’s validity, Coletta pointed out it “bears the seal of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.”
When Trudeau was asked by reporters about this political bombshell, he tried to sweep it under the rug.
“I continue to say, and will always say, that Canada is a reliable partner to Nato,” the PM said, and a “reliable partner around the world.”
Yeah, sure. If there’s one thing that’s truly been reliable in Trudeau’s ineffective, mediocre leadership, it’s his unreliability as a friend, ally and partner on the international stage. Most world leaders are well aware of this.
That’s why Canada has been sitting at the foreign policy kiddie table since Trudeau became Prime Minister in 2015. That’s why relations with Trump and current US President Joe Biden have been strained for years. That’s why Canada embarrassingly lost a 2020 bid for temporary membership on the United Nations Security Council. That’s why my country was left out of the important Aukus security pact between the U.S., Australia and UK.
And now this.
Trudeau has arrogantly thumbed his nose at the free world for years. The free world, in turn, is more than happy to thumb their noses at him. Take a guess which gesture has more political impact.
The worst part of it? Trudeau has unnecessarily put Canada’s safety and security at risk because he stubbornly refuses to meet a basic Nato defence spending target. If this ever leads Nato to remove Canada as a member, would the PM even care?
Based on past history, I doubt it.
Michael Taube, a columnist for Troy Media, Loonie Politics, National Post and Epoch Times, was a speechwriter for former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper