Canada Boosts Military Spending

The Royal Canadian Navy's Maritime Tactical Operations Group (MTOG) conducts training alongside the 51st and 52nd Regiments Commandos Marines (RCM) of the Tunisian Navy in Bizerte, Tunisia.

Canada unveiled plans for one of the biggest rises in military spending in its recent history on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan pledged to better support troops and veterans, re-equip the military and play a leadership role in NATO.

The policy is deliberately ambitious and the most rigorously costed Canadian defense policy ever developed. The Government will grow defense spending over the next 10 years from $18.9 billion in 2016-17 to $32.7 billion in 2026-27.

Investments in the Royal Canadian Navy include:

1. Recapitalizing the surface fleet through the investments in 15 Canadian Surface Combatants and two Joint Support Ships.
2. Acquiring five to six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships.
3. Operating and modernizing the four Victoria-class submarines.
4. Acquiring new or enhanced naval intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, upgraded armament and additional systems for current and future platforms allowing for more effective offensive and defensive naval capabilities.
5. Upgrading lightweight torpedoes carried by surface ships, maritime helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft.

Sajjan says the policy will ensure Canada is:

* Strong at home, with a military ready and able to defend its sovereignty, and to assist in times of natural disaster, support search and rescue, or respond to other emergencies;
* Secure in North America, active in a renewed defence partnership in NORAD and with the United States; and
* Engaged in the world, with Defence doing its part in Canadian contributions to a more stable and peaceful world.

Pentagon officials are "heartened" by Canada's plans, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a statement. “The United States welcomes Canada's marked increase in investment in their military and their continued commitment to a strong defense relationship with the United States and NATO.

“This new defense policy demonstrates Canadian resolve to build additional military capacity and a more capable fighting force. In light of today's security challenges around the world, it's critical for Canada's moral voice to be supported by the hard power of a strong military.”