The government’s slow rollout of NATO announcements continued apace yesterday with the formal announcement that their roadmap to meeting the defence spending target of two percent of GDP was expected by 2032, at which point that would include not only the submarines, but some other air defences as well. But because the details on that roadmap remain scarce, it allowed the usual narratives to carry on, while the Conservatives took to their socials to insist that the government had no intention of really following through on this promise, with no evidence at all (unless it was an admission that they have no intention of sticking to any of these plans, because they have already admitted that they have no intention of meeting the two percent target, merely “working toward it.”)
Canada aiming to reach the 2% of GDP target for defence spending by 2032.
This will involve implementing the ten capabilities that the April 2024 defence policy update, Our North: Strong and Free, set out as those being explored.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
The costing details and so forth are still to come.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
I get the knee-jerk skepticism about Canada buying submarines. But a lot of new equipment has been contracted or coming online over the past decade.
While the timelines are optimistic, the recapitalization has been happening, so there's hope here.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
The Conservative are also saying they'll make 'real and credible' efforts to meet Canada's defence commitments.
There's a bipartisan agreement to aspire to the 2% at least.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
There was also an announcement that Canada and the US would work with Finland on icebreaker capability, with the details to be worked out in the next six months.
The US has been nudging Canada to take the lead on Arctic security.
We're seeing tangible examples here of what that looks like. https://t.co/CQdHKVcnWy
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
Also, kudos for calling it ICE Pact.
— Philippe Lagassé (@LagasseSubstack) July 11, 2024
Looking at you, #cdnpoli. https://t.co/n35VxeA7OY
— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) July 11, 2024
Ukraine Dispatch
Russia launched two missiles and six drones at Ukraine, mostly at the Sumy and Mykolaiv regions. US intelligence reports that Russian agents tried to assassinate the CEO of a German arms manufacturer sending weapons to Ukraine. And Ukraine’s former army chief, who clashed with president Zelenskyy, has begun his new role as ambassador to the UK.
The total marks a significant increase in the number of women serving active combat roles, which was around 5,000 women during the first year of the full-scale invasion.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 11, 2024
#ClimateChange has rendered the South of Ukraine suitable for cotton cultivation.
According to the head of the agrometeorology department at the Hydrometeorological Center, reports LIGA net, #Ukraine has warmed continuously for 20 years. pic.twitter.com/IyrXKybanD— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) July 11, 2024