Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday (Feb. 17) unveiled the country's first-ever defence industrial strategy, aimed at reshaping national defence supply chains through large-scale domestic investment, streamlined procurement processes, and enhanced strategic autonomy. Speaking at the launch event, Carney said safeguarding national security and promoting economic prosperity are "mutually reinforcing cornerstones," and that the strategy will ensure Canada, as a sovereign nation, controls its own destiny.
Under the strategy, the Canadian government will invest more than C$500 billion (approximately HK$2.86 trillion) over the next decade to protect national security, economic prosperity, and sovereign integrity. The goal is to award 70% of federal defence contracts to Canadian companies within 10 years and increase the revenue of Canada's defence industry by 240%, fundamentally changing the country's longstanding over-reliance on international suppliers.
Carney also announced the creation of a new Defence Investment Agency as the core implementing body of the strategy, tasked with reforming and streamlining Canada's defence procurement processes. He emphasized that the government will meet its NATO defence spending target of 2% of GDP within this fiscal year and plans to increase that proportion to 5% by 2035.
Canadian media commentators suggest the driving force behind the strategy is Canada's heavy dependence on the United States for weapons systems manufacturing. Carney has repeatedly noted that for every Canadian dollar spent on defence, 75 cents flows to the U.S.
Related News:
Comment