Canada has reached NATO’s 2 percent of GDP defense spending benchmark and announced new military infrastructure investments.
The government said the NATO target was reached ahead of schedule following a sharp increase in defense spending over the past year.
Total defense expenditures rose by more than 63 billion Canadian dollars ($45 billion), marking the largest annual increase in decades.
Ottawa said it is now accelerating toward higher targets under NATO frameworks, including 3.5 percent of GDP for core defense spending and an additional 1.5 percent for broader security-related investments by 2035.
“In this more fractured and darker world, Canadian leadership will be defined not just by the strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“The Canadian Armed Forces are the foundation of the strength on which we are building Canada strong and free.”
Boosting Defense
As part of its planned increase in defense spending, Canada announced more than $3 billion ($2.1 billion) in investments focused on military infrastructure and operational capacity in Atlantic Canada.
The funding supports efforts to modernize facilities, enhance training, scale defense procurement, and industrial output.
In Nova Scotia, funding targets both naval and air force infrastructure.
Around 1.2 billion dollars ($862 million) is allocated to upgrade power supply and municipal services at key Halifax naval facilities, ensuring capacity for future fleets and systems.
A further 648 million dollars ($465 million) will fund two aviation support facilities at 14 Wing Greenwood, including hangars and maintenance infrastructure for maritime patrol and remotely piloted aircraft.
Additional projects include more than 180 million dollars ($129 million) for a training and integration center linked to future naval surface combatants.
Up to 82.5 million Canadian dollars ($59 million) has been allocated to acquire a 475-acre (192 hectares) waterfront industrial site intended to support naval logistics and operations.
Housing infrastructure is also included, with 60 million dollars ($43 million) allocated for a 140-unit residential complex for military personnel near 12 Wing Shearwater.
In New Brunswick, over 1 billion dollars ($718 million) will be directed to the CFB Gagetown training area, including upgrades to range infrastructure and the introduction of ground-based air defense systems.
An additional 20.2 million dollars ($14.5 million) is earmarked to modernize transition centers supporting personnel leaving military service.
