Canada Eyes Military Revamp Amidst Historical Decline

After years of military underinvestment, Canada is set to revamp its armed forces with a planned budget increase, enabling it to keenly engage in international security efforts and reduce dependence on the U.S., although questions on funding and capability remain.

At the conclusion of World War II, Canada was recognized for having one of the most formidable navies globally, comprising approximately 95,000 personnel and 434 vessels. However, today's Royal Canadian Navy tells a different story, with only around 11,500 members and 40 ships in its fleet. Currently, just one of four diesel submarines, originally procured from Britain in the 1990s, is operational, and the Canadian military overall is short by about 16,000 personnel, falling well beneath an approved strength of 101,500, which includes reserves.

In a bold move, Prime Minister Mark Carney aims to address Canada’s military downsizing by channeling billions into defense, with aspirations to fulfill NATO’s spending target within the year—this remarkable endeavor is set to happen seven years ahead of the initial commitment timeline. The impetus for this shift stems from an urgent response to former President Trump's assertions that Canada has become overly reliant on the United States for its defense needs, creating a push towards strengthening national military capacity.

Carney is not only focused on NATO compliance but also aims to pivot Canada away from traditional security arrangements with its southern neighbor amidst Trump's rhetoric suggesting Canada's potential annexation into the US fold. In line with this, several European allies like Britain and Germany are also ramping up military budgets, countering the isolationist tendencies showcased by the previous U.S. administration.

Despite the promising prospect of an additional 9.3 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $6.8 billion) being earmarked for defense, uncertainties loom over the logistics of funding, with the Prime Minister yet to disclose the sources of this funding. Experts question the Canadian military's readiness to utilize this infusion of financial resources effectively and expediently—raising concerns regarding whether this ambitious military growth is actually feasible.