A U.S. Defense Department official said Thursday that Canada has “yet to make the hard decisions and tradeoffs needed” to be a “credible” military partner with the United States, escalating its criticism of its North American ally and drawing pushback from the Canadian defence minister.
The comments were made days after Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defence policy, announced Monday on social media that his department was pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense “to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense.”
The board was established in 1940 and is an advisory forum for U.S.-Canada bilateral defence cooperation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney shrugged off the move on Tuesday, telling reporters he “wouldn’t overplay the importance of this” and that defence cooperation between Canada and the U.S. would continue through joint military operations like NORAD.
But Thursday’s briefing by senior Pentagon officials with reporters made clear the U.S.’s frustrations with Canada are mounting.
“The Department is monitoring Canada’s defense investment and will reengage in this forum when it is possible to have a serious discussion about our mutual security,” 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.
“Canada 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.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Defence Minister David McGuinty listed the “historic investments in continental defence, Arctic security, and military readiness” made since Carney became prime minister last year and said progress is being made.
“Increased 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,” spokesperson Maya Ouferhat said.
“Progress is also being made on major Canadian capability projects and domestic procurements, helping equip the Canadian Armed Forces while supporting Canadian industry and jobs.”