NATO countries are bolstering their militaries after U.S. President Donald Trump “won the argument” on defence spending, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.
Trump has long said allies don’t spend enough on defence and that the U.S. has carried more than its fair share of NATO’s defence spending burden.
Carney told reporters in Turkey on the last day of the summit that Trump is looking to shift that burden — something former U.S. president Barack Obama had sought as well.
That’s starting to happen, he said.
“That’s gaining momentum,” Carney said. “That’s part of the point I made to President Trump when we spoke a few days ago … It’s not just he’s winning the argument, he’s won the argument.
“Countries recognize that they need to take more responsibility, see the direct threats.”
The prime minister said global security threats are “changing rapidly” along with advances in military technology, from hypersonic missiles to autonomous warfare.
Carney spoke with Trump on Sunday and told reporters the president was in a good mood, as he was when he attended a dinner for NATO leaders on Tuesday night.
Although when Trump appeared at the conference and spoke with Secretary-General Mark Rutte, the president emphasized he is still upset with alliance members and threatened to end trade with Spain.
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“I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran,” Trump said.
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U.S. pushes NATO for 5% defence spending while Canada fails to hit 2% target
Trump’s war with Iran and past threats to annex Greenland have heaped strain on the alliance. Trump added that he would raise Greenland as an issue during the North Atlantic Council meeting.
Rutte sought to assuage Trump ahead of that meeting, telling him he was responsible for a massive surge in military budgets across the alliance.
“It’s really important when it comes to when it comes to NATO, what you have achieved, and this is a huge win,” he said.
Around the summit, allies announced tens of billions of dollars in new military spending.
Ahead of arriving in Turkey this week, Carney announced German manufacturer TKMS will be the preferred bidder for Canada’s next navy fleet of submarines.
The massive contract will rocket up Canada’s military spending, helping it make the case to NATO allies that it’s stepping up on defence.
The German-Norwegian bid narrowly beat South Korea’s Hanwha to become the preferred contractor, although Hanwha could still win the contract if negotiations with TKMS fall through.
Asked if there would be a consolation prize to smooth over relations, Carney said Canada is already hammering out other plans with Seoul.
He said he had a productive meeting on Tuesday with President Lee Jae Myung.
“Obviously, he was disappointed, but the conversation immediately pivoted — at his initiative — to a series of issues around AI and technology risks and how we can continue to deepen our co-operation there,” Carney said.
“That’s not a consolation prize. That is allies working together strategically on important issues.”
I got no real facts so I’ll blame everthing on the conservatives because my beloved Liberals have had 11 years to increase defense spending but never did so it has to be all Harper’s fault. He He He I’m as crazy as can be !!!
@The economist. I’ll state that increasing taxes on consumption and reducing taxes on labour and investment is a good thing. I’m left of centre so I respectfully disagree that cutting taxes is “always” a good thing. Most enlightened despots agree that taxes are the price we pay for civilized society.
@Ben. Cutting taxes is a good thing
Ben
July 8, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Harper cut defense spending to below 1% to pay for his cut to the GST, which the vast majority of economists opposed because it left a huge hole in our finances. Then Trudeau raised it to 1.35%, and Carney to 2%.
There was no need in the Harper years to boost military spending. The threats were just not there. Not like carney and the EU fascists and Trump have become. I dont see Iran etc firing at any other countries except the religious nutbars surrounding them.
F*ck you Troll!
The biggest threat is Trump and f*scists like Carney and most of the EU leaders. The threats, like Iran and Israel have been around a long long time and really, they are no threat. Its war mongers like Trump and others that keep things festering.
Harper cut defense spending to below 1% to pay for his cut to the GST, which the vast majority of economists opposed because it left a huge hole in our finances. Then Trudeau raised it to 1.35%, and Carney to 2%.
The US is going into debt by the trillions because of overspending on war. Why is Carnival Carney promoting this insanity on other countries. Canada was once known as the peacekeeper. Now we are being known as US boot lickers and war mongers.
@Ben.
And Carney / Trudeau did nothing for a decade.
Harper/Poilievre lowered defense spending to below 1%. Trudeau raised it to 1.35%. Carney then raised it to 2%. The facts speak for themselves. As well, we should expel the USA because it has not met it’s commitments to Ukraine under the Budapest Memorandum.
Still tryng to pretend his creative accounting is an increase?
His idiots bought it
When is NATO going to expunge members not meeting treaty requirements? (Spain)
I’m a paid Liberal troll please keep believing my B S I want to keep my boyfriends college fund topped up.
Europe Canada and Asian countries need to stop buying American weapons. The Us got to where they are because in WWl and WWll , they laid back and sold weapons and products to everyone else, and only joined when they saw these wars could come to them. If we (every country but the US) spend defence dollars with friendly countries. BTW buying US is dangerous because the Americns like to keep information pirated from their weapons.
Not shifting a burden but having all alliance members paying their fair share.
Europe/NATO knows they need US and Trump. Elbows Up Carney has been shown he knows nothing and humiliated yet again.
Please don’t listen to me. I’m a total donkey. Yeeehaaaaw. Yeeehaaaw
Um, what an idiot. The defence burden?
What’s next? Consideration for the hoi polloy?
Carney has been a laughingstock in the world after his erroneous “Davos Speech”.
Carney is desperately trying to be relevant in NATO as he doesn’t have any credibility or role.
Every night trump causes me to cry to sleep
is money sucking Zelensky there too????
Ben, you’re an idiot sychophant.
Thats not even what he said.
Carney has a point here but I don’t think Trump is listening. Without support from other middle powers, Canada cannot stand alone against Trump.