Earlier this year, Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada would accelerate meeting our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 2% spending target by March 31st 2026.

“Canada stands firmly with Ukraine and our NATO Allies in the face of Russia’s illegal war. Our work this week highlights the strength of Allied collaboration and our shared commitment to collective defence. Through coordinated efforts, Canada is delivering the training, equipment, and long-term support Ukraine needs while helping ensure NATO remains agile, united, and ready to respond to the rapidly evolving security challenges of today and tomorrow.”

The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence

• NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s international security policy. Canada steadfastly supports NATO’s principle of collective defence and is providing direct support to NATO missions and operations to this end.

• Current Canadian contributions to NATO include:

  • leading the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia;
  • deploying ships on a persistent, rotational basis to the NATO’s Standing Naval Forces; and
  • contributing personnel, including to key leadership positions, to NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, the NATO command that coordinates the provision of military equipment and training to Ukraine.

• Canada welcomes NATO’s new enhanced Vigilance Activity EASTERN SENTRY, which brings greater coherence and efficacy to NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence along the Eastern Flank, including in the Baltics.

• Canada is committed to defending NATO’s Eastern flank, demonstrated by our enduring commitment as the Framework Nation and lead for the Forward Land Force in Latvia under Operation REASSURANCE. Canada also supports the enhancement of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence mission as part of ongoing Allied efforts to strengthen deterrence and collective defence. 

• Canada also contributes to four Capability Coalitions under the UDCG, including the Armour Capability Coalition, the Air Force Capability Coalition, the Drone Capability Coalition, and the IT Capability Coalition.

• Since February 2022, Canada has committed nearly $22 billion in total assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s illegal war, including over $6.5 billion in military assistance. This includes multi-mission drones, armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine’s F-16s.

• Canada further contributes to Euro-Atlantic security through our support to Ukraine. Operation (Op) UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) military training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

  • Since 2015, the CAF has trained over 46,000 members of the AFU under Op UNIFIER, with over 12,000 of whom have been trained in various locations across Europe following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. CAF members are deployed under Op UNIFIER in various roles, including to provide and coordinate training, and to facilitate and deliver military donations to Ukraine in coordination with Allies and partners.

Associated links

• Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Operation REASSURANCE
• Canadian military support to Ukraine
• Operation UNIFIER

Alice Hansen
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: alice.hansen2@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca