Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty, in a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, confirmed Ottawa’s plans to rebuild, rearm, and finally invest in its long-neglected armed forces. He highlighted Canada’s commitment to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the modernization of joint defense systems with the United States, a partnership now facing new challenges.
For decades, Canada leaned heavily on America’s security umbrella, assuming that Washington would always guarantee its defense. But the return of Donald Trump’s “America First” policy in 2025 has pushed Ottawa to confront its vulnerabilities and the urgent need to restore military readiness.
The Canadian Armed Forces are struggling with chronic recruitment shortages, broken procurement systems, outdated equipment, and deteriorating infrastructure. Alarmingly, only about 45% of the air fleet and 46% of the naval fleet are deemed “combat-ready,” according to a report by 19fortyfive.
