The Prime Minister said that, as a middle power, Canada understands how important it is to protect the rules-based international order
Summary
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opposed any deal letting Russia keep Ukrainian land, saying it would encourage other countries to break international rules.
Speaking to a NATO meeting, he highlighted Canada’s $19.5 billion aid to Ukraine and stressed the need to defend global stability.
Trudeau defended his plan to raise military spending to 2% of GDP by 2032 after criticism of Canada’s low defense funding.
He warned against isolating Ukraine, saying continued support is crucial to stop further global conflicts.
Finland has a pretty absurdly strong military. It really is a waste of money. But it has this military because it shares a border with Russia. If Finland did not have such a military, it would be invaded. That is what empires do. Finland's military does not start war; it prevents it.
Ideally, neither side would have to waste money on this military, but until Russia gives up theirs, Finland can't give up theirs either. Good luck convincing Russia to do that.
Not long ago, I would have been in total agreement with you. The very idea of stealing land through invasion was so antiquated to me that I did not believe even Russia would do it until the moment their troops crossed the Ukrainian border. Now, I reluctantly am forced to conclude that not only is Russia that backward, it probably always was, and the only reason Finland has been safe all these years is because of the military that I thought was so absurd.
If Finland did not have such a military, it would be invaded.
That's a speculation you are making, russia spend 20 times as much as finland does in war they wouldn't have much problems invading finland if it was all about military strength.
That is what empires do
That's true USA does the same.
Ideally, neither side would have to waste money on this military, but until Russia gives up theirs, Finland can’t give up theirs either.
While finland spend less than russia NATO combined spend 20 times as much as russia does in war. Do you see where your logic leads? To match USA alone russia would have to tenfold their military budget.
Sure Russia could beat Finland in an invasion, eventually, but due to Finland's army, it would be far more trouble than it's worth.
And let's leave the USA out of this.
Buuuut for as long as we're not leaving the USA out of this, it is worth pointing out that Mexico and Canada do not live in constant fear of being invaded. Finland does, and this fear of invasion is very rational.
Hell, I don't know what my, assumed, fellow countryman was on there. Complaining about the shittiness of our country is damn near the most American thing, right after Mac and Cheese, and German Chocolate Cake.
Only works if your adversaries also cut military spending. Unfortunately countries like Russia have shown that they'll happily attack those unable to defend themselves. This also means that increased military spending can cause less war if it deters those who would otherwise attack.
Only works if your adversaries also cut military spending.
Usa and nato spend 10 times more than what russia does. Open the link and do the math yourself. They have no good excuse to raise the military budget even according to your logic.
Unfortunately countries like Russia have shown that they’ll happily attack those unable to defend themselves.
Go check the history of your country, every authoritarian nation will try to do that. Raising military spending does not make people more secure, it only increase rulers and government power. Wars are fought by people not money.
This also means that increased military spending can cause less war if it deters those who would otherwise attack.
Spending more on war will get you more war. You can see it happening right now in ukraine and middle east.
Ukraine attacking russia in their territory with US and NATO weapons isn't going to make russia stop, it will give russia even more claims to keep up with the war. That's how weapons give you more war.
They are not just complaining about it they are using it as leverage to their propaganda and to send more people into war.
Bullies a lot of times don't attack you directly, they threaten you and piss you off until you end up attacking them. The reality of this war and pretty much all others is that there's a bunch of rulers who benefit from war and seek more of it not less. During the past century USA and Russia have been provoking and fighting each others directly and in proxy wars. Cutting military budget to 0 is how you stop wars.
Canada's expenditure as a % of gdp according to your own source is pretty weak already. Insisting on having no military spending is hardly a real argument. Also, Canada has a very real stake in ensuring russia doesn't succeed given those coveted waters you guys have along the northern territories.
Canada’s expenditure as a % of gdp according to your own source is pretty weak already.
Billions of dollars every year. You are feed up on propaganda, if mass media were to tell you that a billion is a big number you would be here complaining but propaganda have you thinking that you are not spending enough.
Insisting on having no military spending is hardly a real argument.
I wonder if you have any clue how these money are being spend.