I don’t think anyone who disagrees lives in the real world. We need to be spending on defense otherwise we have a very real risk of being ousted from alliances like NATO, and that would leave Canada effectively defenseless.
I don’t even have faith in the USA to do the right thing. We’ve been hit with tariffs from the USA on aluminum and steel before because of ‘reasons for national security’ during the first Trump term. We need to start thinking of defending ourselves without the help of the USA because we shouldn’t be concerned about our defence after the way Michigan votes every 4 years.
Even beyond that, the amount of Russian control over the US administration in the next term may be significant. We may not be able to work with the US in matters of intelligence for fear of some information going to the Russians. The US might not step in and help NATO if Russia decides to test our resolve to defend Finland for instance, and wouldn’t it be good if the rest of the alliance could do their fair share of the work defending the rest of democracy even if the USA won’t?
What does this have to do with what I said in my original comment about Canada needing to increase defense spending to avoid being left in the cold by NATO and other alliances?
I don’t think anyone who disagrees lives in the real world. We need to be spending on defense otherwise we have a very real risk of being ousted from alliances like NATO, and that would leave Canada effectively defenseless.
I don’t even have faith in the USA to do the right thing. We’ve been hit with tariffs from the USA on aluminum and steel before because of ‘reasons for national security’ during the first Trump term. We need to start thinking of defending ourselves without the help of the USA because we shouldn’t be concerned about our defence after the way Michigan votes every 4 years.
Even beyond that, the amount of Russian control over the US administration in the next term may be significant. We may not be able to work with the US in matters of intelligence for fear of some information going to the Russians. The US might not step in and help NATO if Russia decides to test our resolve to defend Finland for instance, and wouldn’t it be good if the rest of the alliance could do their fair share of the work defending the rest of democracy even if the USA won’t?
What does this have to do with what I said in my original comment about Canada needing to increase defense spending to avoid being left in the cold by NATO and other alliances?
…agreeing with your point and expanding on it. Yes, for not spending enough NATO won’t look after us, but also we can’t trust the USA to protect us.