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<\/p>\nA U.S. Defense Department official said Thursday that Canada has \u201cyet to make the hard decisions and tradeoffs needed\u201d to be a \u201ccredible\u201d military partner with the United States, escalating its criticism of its North American ally and drawing pushback from the Canadian defence minister.<\/p>\n
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The comments were made days after Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defence policy, announced Monday on social media<\/a> that his department was pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense \u201cto reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense.\u201d<\/p>\n The board was established in 1940 and is an advisory forum for U.S.-Canada bilateral defence cooperation.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Mark Carney shrugged off the move on Tuesday, telling reporters he \u201cwouldn\u2019t overplay the importance of this\u201d<\/a> and that defence cooperation between Canada and the U.S. would continue through joint military operations like NORAD.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n But Thursday\u2019s briefing by senior Pentagon officials with reporters made clear the U.S.\u2019s frustrations with Canada are mounting.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Department is monitoring Canada\u2019s defense investment and will reengage in this forum when it is possible to have a serious discussion about our mutual security,\u201d one U.S. official said in written remarks provided to several Canadian reporters on background after a lengthy phone briefing, which was off the record.<\/p>\n \u201cCanada has yet to make the hard decisions and tradeoffs needed to put it on track to become a credible partner in the mutual defense of our continent and hemisphere.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson for Defence Minister David McGuinty listed the \u201chistoric investments in continental defence, Arctic security, and military readiness\u201d made since Carney became prime minister last year and said progress is being made.<\/p>\n \u201cIncreased defence spending is already strengthening warfighting capabilities by moving projects forward across ammunition production, space surveillance, small arms, military communications, naval support, submarine modernization, and long-range patrol aircraft,\u201d spokesperson Maya Ouferhat said.<\/p>\n \u201cProgress is also being made on major Canadian capability projects and domestic procurements, helping equip the Canadian Armed Forces while supporting Canadian industry and jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1:50 \t\t\t\tF-35 review delays raised\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Of particular issue was the ongoing and long-delayed review into Canada\u2019s procurement of F-35 fighter jets.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n Canadian officials including McGuinty have refused to explain<\/a> why the review remains delayed, while also expressing interest in buying Sweden\u2019s Saab Gripen jets instead.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tGet breaking National news<\/p>\n Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won’t miss a trending story.<\/p>\n Carney ordered the review of the U.S.-made stealth fighter procurement after becoming prime minister in spring 2025 \u2014 a move that came after U.S. President Donald Trump launched his trade war against Canada. It missed a self-imposed deadline of summer 2025 and has remained under review since.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Canadian government\u2019s delays and lack of transparency around its ongoing F-35 review are just one example of the prioritization of politics over our shared responsibility for North America\u2019s defense,\u201d the U.S. official said. \u201cThe Department welcomes a rapid conclusion to this review.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement from McGuinty\u2019s office did not respond to the criticism of the F-35 review delays.<\/p>\n U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra has previously suggested the possibility of Canada backing out of the F-35 contract was part of the reason for a delay in advancing a new trade and security agreement with the U.S.<\/p>\n The U.S. has billed the F-35 as necessary for NORAD integration and defending the Arctic, which has become a key concern for both Canada and the U.S. amid growing Russian and Chinese incursions.<\/p>\n \u201cU.S.-Canada cooperation via NORAD is critical to securing the northern approaches to the U.S. and Canadian homelands, but its mutual benefit depends on Canada\u2019s ability to contribute proportionately,\u201d the U.S. official said.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t0:42 \t\t\t\tNo roadmap to meeting NATO’s 5% spending target\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore on Canada The official also criticized the lack of a clear roadmap from Canada on how it plans to meet NATO\u2019s new target of spending at least 3.5 per cent of GDP on core defence needs, part of an overall five per cent spending pledge Canada and NATO allies agreed to last year.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cCanada has yet to articulate a path to reach NATO\u2019s new defense spending targets,\u201d the official said. \u201cA plan backed by resourced investments that will put Canada on pace to spend 3.5 per cent on core defense by 2035 would be a good place to start.\u201d<\/p>\n Canada finally reached NATO\u2019s earlier defence spending target of two per cent this year after years of lagging behind the 2014 threshold. Carney said Tuesday that figure is currently tracking at 2.1 per cent.<\/p>\n But the official said Ottawa \u201chas fallen short on deploying the necessary resources to rebuild its armed forces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCanada\u2019s commitment to the 2025 NATO Hague Summit Declaration is only more rhetoric unless matched with resourced investments to fill gaps in priority areas.\u201d<\/p>\n The federal government has announced a slew of spending commitments since last year, including pay raises for Canadian Armed Forces members and upgrades to military bases and housing, which McGuinty\u2019s office highlighted Thursday.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2:16 The statement also pointed to other announcements like acquiring a fleet of new River class destroyers for the Navy, shelling out tens of billions of dollars on modernizing NORAD equipment, and plans to soon buy a new fleet of submarines, as well as the newly-launched defence industrial strategy.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cThese mark investments to date, as Canada reaches 3.5 (per cent) by 2035, Canada will continue to deliver real capability, strengthen readiness, and support Canadian industry and workers,\u201d Ouferhat said.<\/p>\n![\"Click](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/CANADA_ARCTIC_thumbnail_1280x720_.jpg\")
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