From 2% to 5%? Canada’s Defense Pivot, NATO Pressure, and the Path to Real Readiness

Canada’s defense conversation just changed—fast. Why the jump toward 5% of GDP, what it really includes, and how it reshapes our role with NATO, NORAD, and the Arctic. Clear, no-spin breakdown with real-world implications for budgets, industry, and recruitment.

Hosted by Paul and Mike with guest Charlotte Duval Lantoine, VP, Ottawa Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and author of The Ones We Let Down.

What you’ll learn:

• NATO’s 5%: What counts as 3.5% “core defense” vs. 1.5% “defense-related” (roads, ports, dual-use infra).

• NORAD modernization: Why aging radar and Arctic coverage matter—and how binational command actually works.

• Strategic autonomy vs. U.S. pressure: Tariffs, Trump, and the case for stronger Canadian/European capabilities.

• Culture & recruitment: Why money isn’t a silver bullet without structural and leadership reforms.

• Peacekeeping perception vs. reality: How Canada’s military posture has evolved since the 1990s.

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