The surging cost of military equipment will make it increasingly difficult for national defence giants like BAE and Rolls-Royce to remain independent.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, National Defence Minister Bill Blair and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland release Canada’s new defence policy during a news conference at CFB Trenton on April 8, 2024.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The 20-year timeline of Canada’s new defence policy, and the fact that several proposed investments will “be explored,” raises serious questions about its commitment to pull its weight in NATO.
Potential economic gains are partly driving interest in joining pillar two of AUKUS. The risks and rewards need to be more widely debated before any decision is made.
With geopolitical tension and uncertainty rising, New Zealand’s ruling coalition faces urgent questions about defence spending, alliances and its independent foreign policy.
A lack of political will has impeded any progress on disarmament for nearly four decades.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the media during a visit with members of the Canadian Armed Forces at CFB Kingston in Kingston, Ont., in March 2023.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Canadians are dubious about boosting defence spending for an array of reasons. It’s time for politicians and pundits not to admonish them, but to listen to them.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say goodbye at 4 Wing Cold Lake air base in Cold Lake Alta, in August 2022 after a Stoltenberg visit.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Canadians were shocked by how fragile their health-care system was under the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. But our military is under similar stresses and only a major disaster will open our eyes.
Getting enough fighter planes ready for WW2 was the mother of all procurement jobs.
Chronicle/Alamy
Both eras are seeing technological advancement on a unique scale.
Defence Minister Anita Anand chats with Armed Forces personnel in Halifax in November 2022. The government needs to focus on more action, less talk when it comes to defence policy.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Canada’s military faces financial, procurement, human resources and culture challenges. The federal government has known about them for years, so why another defence policy review?
Be prepared: Nato Saber Strike 22exercises in Estonia, April 2022.
EPA-EFE/Valda Kalnina
While there has been a big spend on cyber capabilities, many other aspects of defence and security have been neglected. The budget highlights the lack of a comprehensive national security policy.
The region is already arming at the fastest rate in the world, but China and other nations can be expected to respond to AUKUS by further expanding their militaries.
The UK has fallen victim to drones, chemical weapons and cyber-attacks in recent years. But at least it’s got a really big boat.
China’s rising influence in the region has alarmed many defence experts. But the question remains: would Australia ever need to fight China on its own?
Joel Carrett/AAP