Trudeau Defends Canada's Military Spending Plan To Trump At NATO Summit

BRUSSELS – Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, President of the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of the United States. 19659002] Trudeau said: Trudeau said: "The most important thing in the world." (19659003) Trudeau said he did not agree to uphold Canada's commitment to the 2014 Wales NATO summit pledge on defense investment, but took all the steps towards the declaration technically states NATO allies would simply "love to move toward" the two per cent guideline within a decade. [19659004] "Trudeau told a news conference."

"Leading up to 2014 and the Wales conference, NATO countries had been under-investing in t

"There Was a Commitment to Reverse the Decline and Declining Investment in the United States of America. cam in. ''

During his / her / its news conference Thursday, Trump was asked how he would increase pressure on Canada, Germany and Italy if any of the three failed to meet the two per cent target

"Well, they will, '' he responded. "

Trudeau was not the only leader who seemed to be at odds with Trump's

French President Immanuel Macron quickly disputed Trump's claim that NATO allies the president of the United States. had agreed to boost defense spending beyond the two per cent benchmark, quoting the group's communicates that lays out the original goal.

                                                                                        

    
    

        
            
            
            

            
        

                
                    

                                    
                        Ludovic Marin / Pool via REUTERS
                    

                            

            

"It confirms the goal of 2 per cent by 2024. That's all," said Macron, who also denied the talk of Trump (19659005) "President Trump never at any moment, or in public or in private, threatened to withdraw from NATO. '

Trudeau touted his government's long-awaited defense policy review, released last June, as the answer to Trump's latest demands for more NATO allies. And he said Canada has promised to return to military resources with an eye towards the two per cent target

                                                                

    
    

        
            
            
            

            
        

                
                    

                                    
                        Paul Hanna / Reuters
                    

                            

            

Including that commitment, however, Canada's current defense plans are only expected to bring it to 1.4 per cent of GDP by 2024.

"You know, the two per cent was a range This is a big difference, '' Trump said.

"It was a big difference," said Trump. Now it's a commitment, a real commitment. ''

Canada was never expected to agree to Trump's spending demands. Instead, Trudeau 's announcement to the summit – plans to lead a new training mission in Iraq and an extension to its role in a battlefield battle in Latvia through 2023 – were aimed at demonstrating a commitment beyond the dollars

                                                                                        

    
    

        
            
            
            

            
        

                
                    

                                    
                        Ints Kalnins / Reuters
                    

                            

            

While in Latvia, this month, when asked about the plans to meet the target, the prime minister made it clear that Canada's defense budget.

"Ultimately, the most important metrics are always, ' countries stepping up consistently with the capabilities that NATO needs? Are we contributing to the kinds of resources and demonstrating the kind of commitment to the alliance that always needs to be there? '' '

Following Thursday's emergency session of NATO members, Trump declared the military alliance to be "very unified, very strong, no problem." He said he was successfully pushed for NATO members to spend more on their budgets on defense and at a faster pace than expected. [19659002] "Trump said at his closing news conference, quoting Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as crediting the US approach for the progress.

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                        Reinhard Krause / Reuters
                    

                            

            

"Secretary General Stoltenberg gives us total credit – meaning me, I guess, in this case" Total credit. ''

The summit's dramatic, chaotic conclusion Truth and Reconciliation of the Last Supper G7 meetings in Quebec.

There, while on board Air Force 1, he used to share his story Canada's insistence it would defend itself from US aggression on trade.

Trudeau thing he did not care for.

                                                                                        

    
    

        
            
            
            

            
        

                
                    

                                    
                        Dominika Zarzycka / NurPhoto via Getty Images
                    

                            

            

"Trudeau said, adding that all NATO leaders were ready to demonstrate and reaffirm their commitment.

But they also wanted to ensure they

"What you spend on a military budget does not necessarily lead to greater capacity to contribute to NATO's defense," he said. That's why they are investing in their badets, investments in training, investments in the world, the most important things.

With files from The Associated Press

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