Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the first step toward the procurement of up to 12 conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines.
OTTAWA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday the country expects to reach NATO's 2 percent of GDP spending target by 2032.
Concluding his participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital, Trudeau said Canada has also committed to a regular cycle of review of its defence policy, including a new defence policy update in 2028.
"Through that process, we will continue to explore opportunities to further increase defence spending in a manner that protects Canada and advances our strategic interests," Trudeau said.
The prime minister confirmed the first step toward the procurement of up to 12 conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines.
"With the longest coastline in the world, underwater surveillance capability is crucial to Canada's national security," Trudeau said in a news release.
Canada also signed a trilateral letter of intent with Germany and Norway to establish a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation in the North Atlantic in support of NATO's deterrence and defence, according to the release.
Canada and NATO have also long recognized that climate change risks global stability, security, and defence, including in the warming Arctic, opening a new arena of competition, the release said.
On the margins of the summit, Trudeau announced an enhanced trilateral partnership with the United States and Finland, called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact). This new partnership will further strengthen the abilities to produce best-in-class polar capable vessels, the release said. ■
