"The United States has said it will not take part in a joint board for continental defence with Canada, depicting the country as failing to live up to its defence obligations. On Monday, US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby wrote on social media that his department would halt its involvement in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess the forum's benefits. The board dates back to World War II and has served as a forum for regional security."
"“A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments,” Colby wrote on X. “We can no longer avoid the gaps between rhetoric and reality. Real powers must sustain our rhetoric with shared defense and security responsibilities.”"
"The announcement is the latest instance of the Trump administration chiding Western allies for what the president believes is an overreliance on US military power. Allied countries have largely refuted his claims, arguing that they are ramping up military spending and taking steps to take greater control over regional security. Just last year, at a NATO summit in The Hague, nearly every member state agreed to increase defence spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP)."
The United States said it will halt involvement in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense with Canada to reassess the forum’s benefits. The move follows longstanding US complaints that allies fail to meet mutual defense obligations. The board originated during World War II and has functioned as a regional security forum. Relations have become strained since Donald Trump returned to office in 2025. The US cited a gap between Canada’s defense rhetoric and real progress, arguing that shared responsibilities require credible action. Canada has committed to increased defense spending aligned with NATO goals, including funding for core military capabilities and security-related expenses such as port improvements and emergency preparedness.
#us-canada-relations #defense-commitments #nato-spending #continental-security #permanent-joint-board-on-defense
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