Donald Trump’s remarks on NATO ‘not helpful,’ says Canada’s defence minister

[Tennis]

OTTAWA — Donald Trump’s comments that, if elected president, the U.S. wouldn’t automatically come to the aid of allies are “not helpful,” Canada’s defence minister says.

The Republican nominee caused a stir this week when he said some NATO members aren’t spending enough on defence, and are instead relying on the U.S. to protect them. That would change if he’s elected, Trump told the New York Times.

“We’re talking about countries that are doing very well,” he said. “I would absolutely be prepared to tell those countries, ‘Congratulations, you will be defending yourself.’”

While Trump appeared to be directing his comments at European allies, Canada spends less than one per cent of its gross domestic product on defence. That is half the NATO target and puts Canada near the back of the pack among the alliance’s 28 members.

In an interview with The Canadian Press Thursday, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan defended Canada’s military contributions and NATO. He pointed to Canada’s recent promise to lead a NATO force in Latvia and its role in the fight against Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, as proof the country is pulling its weight.

“We’re stepping up in a much bigger way,” Sajjan said. “When you put everything together, we have nothing to embarrassed about. In fact, we actually can be very proud of the fact of how much we’re doing.”

Article 5 of the NATO treaty enshrines the concept of collective defence, in which an attack on one member is an attack on all. The only time it was invoked was after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which led to the war in Afghanistan.

Some Eastern European members have worried Article 5 will not be honoured if Russia takes action against them. That is partly why Canada and other allies are sending troops to the Baltics and Poland, to reassure those countries that the alliance stands with them.

“His words were irresponsible and they inspired fear in me. I’m worried about the world’s future, about Poland’s future,” said 39-year-old schoolteacher Lidia Zagorowska in Warsaw, Poland.

“If I were a U.S. citizen, I would never, ever vote for Trump. Let that be my answer,” said Katarzyna Woznicka, 54, walking her dog in downtown Warsaw.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who backed Trump at the party’s national convention only two days earlier, said he totally disagreed with the statement but was willing to “chalk it up to a rookie mistake.”

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2...-minister.html

DJT is becoming more and more unpopular with every day that goes by. He really is a rookie at this isn't he? Truly underestimating the value of NATO some would argue.

[Orlong]

Sounds to me like he is just pissed that Canada wont be able to continue riding on the back of the US and might actually have to spend some money on defense and then they wont be able to continue paying for all of their socialist programs. We (the US) are sick and tired of footing everyone else's bill!

[Mistame]

Honestly, I don't care Trump or Canada thinks.

[Tradewind]

Sounds to me like he is just pissed that Canada wont be able to continue riding on the back of the US and might actually have to spend some money on defense and then they wont be able to continue paying for all of their socialist programs. We (the US) are sick and tired of footing everyone else's bill!

I'm sure it's entirely necessary for every NATO country, including the US, to be buying billions of dollars worth of ordinance to sit idle in case the reds come back.

[fengosa]

Sounds to me like he is just pissed that Canada wont be able to continue riding on the back of the US and might actually have to spend some money on defense and then they wont be able to continue paying for all of their socialist programs. We (the US) are sick and tired of footing everyone else's bill!

Please give a coherent reason why Canada should up their defense budget when no one is attacking us.



Also added a picture of Canada's defence minister. Guys a certified bad ass, he won't take shit from Trump.

[RickJamesLich]

Please give a coherent reason why Canada should up their defense budget when no one is attacking us.

If you folks have nothing to worry about, then Donald Trump's words shouldn't be that big of a deal then, right?

[bladeXcrasher]

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2...-minister.html

DJT is becoming more and more unpopular with every day that goes by. He really is a rookie at this isn't he? Truly underestimating the value of NATO some would argue.

I think the USA needs to be more isolationist.

[Tennis]

If you folks have nothing to worry about, then Donald Trump's words shouldn't be that big of a deal then, right?

It matters. It's quite handy to have NATO ready to defend us in case something happens.

[Tyrianth]

It's funny because the US is actually the only country to invoke Article V.

[chrisfover87]

It matters. It's quite handy to have NATO ready to defend us in case something happens.

LOL. I think you are just trying to be sarcastic.

[bladeXcrasher]

It matters. It's quite handy to have NATO ready to defend us in case something happens.

But wouldn't it be great if you could defend yourself?

[Tennis]

Sounds to me like he is just pissed that Canada wont be able to continue riding on the back of the US and might actually have to spend some money on defense and then they wont be able to continue paying for all of their socialist programs. We (the US) are sick and tired of footing everyone else's bill!

So you are fine with cutting defense spending and having thousands of middle class Americans out of jobs?

- - - Updated - - -

But wouldn't it be great if you could defend yourself?

Why bother? Much easier for us to spend less than 1% of our GDP on defense while being protected. Win win for Canadians.

[Gsara]

I think we should have pulled out of NATO long ago, bring home all our troops and weapons and let the chips fall where they may. The US wont do that though because of the silly amount of money we make selling weapons and protection to other countries.

[fengosa]

If you folks have nothing to worry about, then Donald Trump's words shouldn't be that big of a deal then, right?

Of course they aren't, that's the point of the article.

[Tennis]

I think we should have pulled out of NATO long ago, bring home all our troops and weapons and let the chips fall where they may. The US wont do that though because of the silly amount of money we make selling weapons and protection to other countries.

What's the one country to benefit from Article V?

[fengosa]

But wouldn't it be great if you could defend yourself?

The entire point of an alliance is to strengthen your country through your allies. Even so Canada has never been attacked by a foreign nation. We've done far more to help NATO allies than we've ever needed to rely on them.

[Citizen T]

It matters. It's quite handy to have NATO ready to defend us in case something happens.

I love it. You are the type that says call the police if you are in danger - you can't own a gun and protect yourself. With this statement you're essentially saying call the US (i.e. the police) when you are in danger as a country but then get pissed off that the US acts in your opinion as the world's police.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

It matters. It's quite handy to have NATO ready to defend us in case something happens.

The problem is the mere thought of the US not being in NATO means it isn't "ready" is the problem. While most people in the US understand that we are likely always going to be the biggest player in the alliance for the near foreseeable future but over the past 20 or so years it has kinda started to feel like we are the only player in town and everyone else just wants to be the people on the side of the road handing off cups of water while we run the marathon. Then to make things worse while we do all the running most of the people on the side lines just want to boo and throw shit and piss on us as we do all the running it takes to win the race.

Like I said before no one expects anyone to contribute as much as the US to the alliance. Just isn't reasonable for a whole lot of reasons. But a lot of nations, and you Europeans know it, don't even meet the most basic of the treaty obligations and worse a lot of the nations aren't up for a fight even if it was to appear in their own backyards for reasons they truly hold dear.

Canada on the other hand is a nation that meets its treaty obligations. Canada has also stood with the United States both logistically and ON THE GROUND in all of the alliances conflicts since the inception of the alliance proper. Also they didn't just send some symbol of support like 10 trucks, 100 men, and 2 choppers into the conflict zone but rather a properly proportioned fighting force that could stand on its own. Sure not the size of US forces but it wasn't what was asked of them according to the treaty.

[Deleted]

Canada's defence minister. Guys a certified bad ass, he won't take shit from Trump.

Why did you link a picture of an Iranian?

[Gsara]

What's the one country to benefit from Article V?

What does article V have anything to do with what I said? Its not like the US needed it to go into the middle east.