Former Canadian ambassador Ferry de Kerckhove says Canada’s NATO defence spending commitment of 1.67 per cent is “hogwash” and that the country is seen as a “laggard” by its peers.

De Kerkhove’s comments come as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders meet in Washington, D.C. for the annual NATO Summit. Canada is the only NATO member country not meeting the alliance’s target that has yet to provide a roadmap of how it will reach two per cent of GDP, which NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said will be expected at the summit.

De Kerckhove said that while discussions at NATO are “extremely polite,” Canada is beginning to face pressure from other member states.

“This is a bit of hogwash for one of the wealthiest countries in the world,” he said of Canada’s current spending commitment. “We’re a very wealthy country and we should make a sacrifice,” he added.

Canada’s updated defence policy forecasts spending will rise from 1.37 per cent of GDP currently to 1.76 per cent by 2030.

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