BRUSSELS — Defence Minister Bill Blair says Canada is working hard to accelerate its defence spending to get to the two per cent threshold that it has committed to as part of NATO.

The minister is in Brussels to meet with NATO allies and the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

U.S. President Donald Trump has complained that Canada is not meeting its NATO spending commitments and talked about Canada becoming the 51st state.

Blair called the 51st state comments “disrespectful and concerning.”

The minister pointed to Norad as an example of how Canada and the U.S. work together on continental defence.

He says Norad is an incredibly effective alliance where the two countries have worked together and that Canada has already committed almost $38.6 billion to Norad modernization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2025.

The Canadian Press