Trudeau, Canada getting free trip on NATO’s again: GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan on Sunday accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his nation of being a “free rider” for skirting their duty to supply sufficient army funding for NATO.

The Republican senator referred to as Canada “one of many greatest laggards” within the North Atlantic Treaty Group by failing to cough up 2% of its gross home product to fund the Western alliance.

Trudeau “has been heard to say he’s by no means going to hit” the two% NATO minimal requirement, mentioned Sullivan, a Marine reservist who’s a member of the Senate Armed Companies Committee, during an interview with John Catsimatids on the “Cats Roundtable” WABC 770 AM radio.

“The Canadians landed on Juno Seaside [on D-Day during World War 11].  Did an unbelievable job. However proper now, they’re not doing job close to their obligations in NATO,” Sullivan griped.

“Canada is a army free rider in NATO. It’s true I’m a fan of the Canadians. They’re our solely neighbor in Alaska, for those who don’t embrace Russia. However with regard to the NATO-member agreed-upon necessities — to hit 2% of gross home product on protection … Canada is among the greatest laggards. Not even shut. A bit bit above 1.3%,” the pol mentioned.

He mentioned Canada’s failure to hit the two% funding goal was a burning difficulty throughout a NATO summit final week in Lithuania,  which he attended.

Sullivan mentioned a latest Wall Street Journal editorial calling out Trudeau was spot-on.

However Trudeau final week defended Canada’s army spending report and funding for the North American Aerospace Protection Command and NATO.

“We’ve invested massively in NORAD modernization simply earlier this yr. We’re persevering with to step up in our NATO commitments,” Trudeau told the Anchorage Every day Information..

“We’re going to proceed to step up on this time of elevated considerations round safety in every single place around the globe,” he mentioned.

Lately, 31 NATO allies pledged to spend “not less than” 2% of GDP on the alliance.

Final yr, solely seven member international locations directed not less than 2% of their GDP to protection spending.

Sullivan additionally claimed that President Biden is attempting to shortchange the US protection finances throughout one of many “most harmful durations” since World Conflict II, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a bellicose China bullying its neighbors.  

“One of many issues we’ve to do is have knowledgeable, sturdy, deadly army.  Everyone usually agrees with that, besides the Biden administration,” he mentioned.