US pauses Canada defense board

The United States has abruptly paused the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, a long-standing advisory body for US-Canada bilateral defense cooperation, citing Canada's failure to make credible progress on its defense commitments. Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defense policy, announced the freeze and publicly criticized Canada. In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada downplayed the significance of the move, emphasizing Canada's ongoing efforts to ramp up defense spending, including upgrades to International — NORAD's infrastructure, and its recent achievement of meeting NATO's two percent GDP defense spending target. Carney also stated Canada's intention to diversify defense cooperation with other allies and support Ukraine. The suspension, while symbolic, does not affect joint military operations but occurs amidst existing trade disputes and elevated bilateral tensions between the United States and Canada. Former parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page criticized Canada for not having a clear financial plan for future defense spending.