Trump Administration Suspends Canada-US Defence Advisory Board, Referencing Carney’s Davos Speech
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-administration-suspends-canada-us-defence-advisory-board-referencing-carneys-davos-speech-6027302?ea_src=ca-frontpage&ea_med=section-1
Washington is pausing its participation in the Canada-U.S. Permanent Joint Board on Defense, saying Ottawa has failed to live up to its defence commitments.
“A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments,” U.S. Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby said on social media on May 18, while announcing that his department is pausing the board “to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense.”
The board, formed in 1940, consists of both military and civilian representatives from the two countries, and is meant to serve as a forum for strategic discussions related to defence cooperation. During the board’s 2024 meeting in Ottawa, the two countries discussed issues related to NORAD modernization, Arctic security, and defence cooperation in other areas of the world including the Indo-Pacific.
In his announcement, Colby included a link to a speech Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, in which he asked middle powers to band together, and criticized the United States.
“We can no longer avoid the gaps between rhetoric and reality. Real powers must sustain our rhetoric with shared defense and security responsibilities,” Colby said as he shared the link.
“Delivering on shared continental defense begins by recognizing our shared geography. Only by investing in our own defense capabilities will Americans and Canadians be safe, secure, and prosperous.” Continue…