European members of NATO and Canada lag far behind the U.S. in defense-spending levels and military capabilities. Now they are trying to fix that, as Russia expands its arms production and ...

Canada’s top military commander, however, says other measures will also be needed to keep people enlisted.

The military spending hike and the related decision to militarize the Coast Guard mean Canada will meet NATO’s 2 percent of GDP defence-spending floor by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Canada has been under pressure from the United States and other NATO allies for years to increase military funding. Canada currently spends about 1.4% of GDP on defense.

Russia’s saber-rattling in the Arctic is forcing Canada to deepen military cooperation with its Nordic NATO allies — a marked policy shift away from the United States.

Canada’s previous government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, planned to raise Canada’s spending, which is at 1.37 percent, to meet the military alliance’s target by 2032.

The prime minister said Canada would spend money on military vehicles, drones, ammunition and sensors to monitor the Arctic.