This material is part of Watching Washington, a regular broadcast by CBC News correspondents who report on US policy and events affecting Canadians.
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A U.S. senator scoffed at Canada as a defensive player during a high-ranking congressional hearing in Washington on Tuesday – and suggested he was fed up with it.
This happened during an exchange of the expected $ 40 billion in additional aid to Ukraine, which the US Congress is expected to adopt soon.
Dan Sullivan of Alaska said he still supported US funding for Ukraine, but also said he was annoyed that so much of the burden of military aid fell on the United States. He asked witnesses if they saw US allies stepping up and approaching NATO’s historic military spending target of two percent of GDP.
Sullivan explicitly mentioned Canada twice and mentioned Germany once in passing on board.
“Do you see a change in our NATO allies to say, ‘You know what?’ It is time to bear our own weight here. The Americans are doing it – once again, “the Alaskan Republican asked.
“[Because] $ 40 billion [more for Ukraine] – that’s a lot of money. My constituents also have many needs.
“We still have NATO allies, one from Canada, who are just releasing. And it’s getting a little tiring.
The United States is spending much more on the military than its allies, despite growing debt, as noted in this so-called national debt clock, seen here in 2017 in New York. (Shannon Stapleton / Reuters)
What is the context
Sullivan spoke at a hearing involving two senior US intelligence officials as witnesses: Avril Haynes, director of national intelligence, and a lieutenant general. Scott Berrier, director of the United States Defense Intelligence Agency.
The US Congress appears to be vying to approve another new spending package for Ukraine, with strong support from both parties. In fact, Congress is likely to provide even more, billions more than President Joe Biden for $ 33 billion requested military and humanitarian aid.
Opponents of more aid to Ukraine left and right argue that this is more than the US can afford, with almost $ 24 trillion national debt and unresolved issues at home.
United States currently spending more for its military than any other NATO country combined – in fact, twice as much as all others combined, including more than 30 times Canada’s spending in dollars and almost three times what Canada spends as a percentage of GDP.
Like the vast majority of Congress, Sullivan is likely to vote on the latest aid package for Ukraine. However, he added a warning and a message to the allies.
“That’s a lot,” said the Alaskan senator. He asked witnesses for their views on foreign allies’ recent promises of military spending.
“If ever there was a time when the parties had to wake up and say, ‘You know what?’ For 40 years, we have promised to hit two percent (of GDP). The wolf is at the door. Maybe the bear is on the door, or the dragon is on the door. Whatever metaphor you want. …
“My understanding is that Canada will still not reach even one percent of GDP.”
Canada actually spends 1.36% of its gross domestic product on the military, according to the latest NATO figures. figures.
The recent federal budget promises that spending will rise to about 1.5 percent while Canada has also provided more than $ 1 billion in Cdn to Ukraine military and non-military aid and loans; this aid includes eight armored vehicles and several howitzers.
The Trudeau government also promises to then modernize NORAD’s Arctic radar systems repeated appeals from the United States
Others in Washington are much friendlier to Canada. This includes the US Secretary of Defense during a recent press conference at the Pentagon.
Lloyd Austin thanked his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand for stepping up armored vehicles and other contributions to Ukraine: “This is exactly what we expect from Canada, from your own leadership and sense of moral purpose.”
What next
Intelligence officials say they will monitor whether US allies meet their latest commitments to military spending.
“I think this is something we will see them continue, at least in part,” Haynes said during a conversation with Sullivan.
Berie said the invasion of Ukraine was indeed a wake-up call: “I think it has had a stimulating effect on our NATO partners. I think most of them will happen [on spending]”
One of Washington’s immediate priorities is to see a concrete plan from Canada to replace the aging warning system in the Canadian Arctic.
Biden’s ambassador to Ottawa, David Cohen, recently told CBC News he had little candid conversations on the subject with senior members of the Canadian Cabinet.
WATCH Increased support for Ukraine from the West:
Ukraine sees a leap in support of the West
Public support for Western Ukraine rose over the weekend. US First Lady Jill Biden, as well as U2 and The Edge Bono, visited the country while G7 leaders promised additional sanctions against Russia. 2:14
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