Photo: Czarek Sokolowski Associated Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in discussion with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, February 26, 2024.
Laura Osman – The Canadian Press in Warsaw
08:52
- Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Canada's defense spending levels on Monday, the final day of a three-day visit to Ukraine and Poland.
Mr. Trudeau said Canada was the seventh-largest defense contributor among NATO's 31 allies, but acknowledged there was still much to do.
He met Monday with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said it was essential that the Western world mobilize to confront the global threat posed by Russia.
Mr. Tusk expressed confidence that each NATO member will “sooner or later” reach the spending levels necessary to build an adequate defense.
He described Canada as one of the most valuable and essential allies of Europe and Poland.
Justin Trudeau, who traveled to Kyiv on Saturday to reaffirm Canada's support for Ukraine, met earlier Monday with Mr. Tusk and President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.
It is Mr. Trudeau's first visit to the Polish capital since a radical political change in the country ended eight years of conservative rule late last year.
Canada and Poland have rallied behind Ukraine as the country enters its third year of war with dwindling supplies and personnel problems, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to seek emergency help. Its troops recently withdrew from the strategic eastern town of Avdiivka, giving Russia one of its greatest victories. And Russia still controls about a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to achieve a major breakthrough during its summer counteroffensive.
Tusk, who also served as the country's prime minister from 2007 to 2014, is a centrist who took office in December and has been working to strengthen ties with the rest of Europe.
President Duda, on the other hand, is a conservative leader who must now deal with a very different government. The meetings focused on the dangers facing Ukraine and the importance of the alliance of NATO, the main bulwark between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the rest of Europe.
Canada is under new pressure to spend 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, a NATO-mandated target that most other allies are expected to achieve by the end of the year. Canada's spending currently hovers around 1.3% of GDP.
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Support for Ukraine
Canada and Poland have rallied behind Ukraine as the country enters its third year of war with dwindling supplies and personnel problems, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to seek aid from 'emergency. Its troops recently withdrew from the strategic eastern town of Avdiivka, giving Russia one of its greatest victories. And Russia still controls about a quarter of the country, while Ukraine failed to achieve a major breakthrough during its summer counter-offensive.
The looming and difficult battle did not stop Prime Minister Trudeau from doubling down on his promise to support Ukraine until it achieves victory.
“Putin cannot win,” he said Saturday in a speech from Hostomel Airport, Ukraine, where Ukrainian soldiers repelled a Russian assault on the first day of the invasion.
“Ukraine will experience victory, just like what happened here two years ago,” he added.
The Polish government wants to ensure that Canada and its other allies remain engaged in the war raging right on its border, Canada's ambassador to the country said in a weekend interview. Catherine Godin called the war in Ukraine a real and present threat to the Polish people.
Canada and Poland are cooperating on military training missions aimed at strengthening the skills of the Ukrainian armed forces. And Poland appreciates Canada's role in protecting NATO's eastern flank in Latvia, according to Ambassador Godin.
Reconciliation with Europe
On what the change of government in Poland means for Canada, Ms. Godin noted that Canada will support Prime Minister Tusk's push to repair strained relations between Warsaw and Brussels after the European Union (EU) called the previous Polish government a threat to judicial independence.
In 2021, the EU denounced what it saw as deficiencies in Poland's national justice systems, anti-corruption frameworks and media freedom.
According to Catherine Godin, “they worked very hard in favor of the rule of law. Their main concern has been to enable them to demonstrate that they are committed and can access EU funds and demonstrate their commitment to human rights. »
“This also aligns with Canadian values. »