NATO head expects to see spending plan

General secretary wants Canada to detail how it will commit 2% of GDP to defence

- ALEX BALLINGALL

"We need to prioritize defence investments in our security," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, "because we need to respond to the more dangerous and challenging security climate."

OTTAWA The head of NATO says Russia, China and other authoritar ian regimes are aligning dangerously in a way that requires members to strengthen the alliance, at a time when Canada is facing criticism for falling short of its commitments on military spending.

During a quick visit to Ottawa on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed gratitude and appreciation for Canada's contributions to the defensive alliance.

But he also made clear he expects all members who haven't hit their spending targets to present a plan to show how they will do so and that he intended to discuss the issue at a dinner Wednesday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

So far, even after doubling military spending since 2014, Canada has only proposed defence plans that are expected to equal 1.76 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2029 still short of the two-percent pledge all NATO countries first made 10 years ago.

"I expect that all allies will reach two per cent," Stoltenberg told reporters at a news conference before his meeting with Trudeau.

"We will address when and how Canada can present a plan for when and how to be at two per cent."