US criticism of Canadian defence spending will grow

Significance Blair was largely welcomed on a two-day visit to present Canada’s updated defence policy to the Biden administration, but in private US officials voice frustration at Ottawa's failure to meet the NATO benchmark of spending 2% of GDP defence. A second Trump administration would likely be significantly more critical on that issue. Impacts Criticism of Canada’s defence policy from a Trump White House would likely deepen expected bilateral friction over trade policy. A second Biden administration would praise specific defence investments but still exclude Canada from new regional security partnerships. A new government in Ottawa after the next election, due by mid-2025, would have an opportunity to rethink defence strategy and spending.