WASHINGTON — American leaders have been criticizing Canada for falling short on defence commitments for decades — a critique that has only intensified in recent years to include “free riding” and “delinquency.”
The recent release of Canada’s first national security strategy in over 22 years comes amid demands that Ottawa contribute more to allied defence as well as worsening security threats, military capability gaps, and concerns about relying too much on the United States. “The Plan for a Stronger Canada” pledges a greater contribution to allied defence and strategic autonomy for Canada.
