Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that the nature of global security threats is changing rapidly, with NATO facing new challenges including hybrid warfare, hypersonic missiles and autonomous weapons.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara, Carney said the alliance must adapt to a new security environment and described Russia as a \u201cdirect adversary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe threats that we face are changing, changing rapidly, both in terms of the nature of warfare \u2014 hybrid warfare, hypersonic missiles, autonomous warfare \u2014 and also the direct threats that we face in terms of hybrid warfare,\u201d Carney said.<\/p>\n
He said defense responsibilities within NATO are shifting, with countries beyond the United States taking on greater roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cBurdens are shifting. Burdens are shifting away from the United States towards Canada, towards Europe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Carney highlighted Canada\u2019s planned increase in defense spending, saying the country\u2019s military budget has grown significantly since he took office.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly before I became Prime Minister 18 months ago, we were spending one and a half percent of GDP on defense. It\u2019s now going to be four percent in the next two years,\u201d he said, calling the increase \u201can order of magnitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian leader also pointed to recent military investments, saying Ottawa had completed its largest-ever defense procurement program with the announcement of new submarines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just completed our largest defense procurement with submarines announced it two days ago,\u201d Carney said, adding that \u201ccapacities are building\u201d across NATO members.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the alliance\u2019s future approach must focus on regional security responsibilities, with countries developing capabilities based on their geographic priorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re Canada, focus obviously on North American security and the crescent that runs through the Arctic down into the Baltics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Carney also announced that Canada would extend its Operation Reassurance commitment in Latvia, describing it as an example of the kind of regional strategy needed for a modern NATO.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the type of approach of a modern NATO, that\u2019s the approach that meets the new threats that we face,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n