Prime Minister Mark Carney downplayed Washington's decision to pause a long-standing bilateral defence board, stating that Canada remains committed to security cooperation with the United States. During a press conference in Toronto, Carney noted that the move was not unexpected and that both nations continue to work together on key defence matters.
Background of the Bilateral Defence Board
The Permanent Joint Board on Defence (PJBD), established in 1940, serves as a forum for Canada-U.S. military collaboration. The U.S. decision to pause its participation was announced earlier this week, citing a lack of credible progress on shared priorities.
Carney's Response
Carney emphasized that the pause does not signal a breakdown in relations. “We have strong channels of communication with our American counterparts,” he said. “This is a temporary measure, and we are confident it will be resolved.”
The prime minister also highlighted ongoing joint efforts in Arctic security, NATO commitments, and border protection. He refused to speculate on whether the pause was linked to trade disputes or other political tensions.
Reactions from Opposition and Experts
Opposition leaders criticized the government for not doing enough to maintain the partnership. Defence analysts, however, noted that pauses in the PJBD have occurred before and are often resolved quickly.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa declined to comment further, referring to earlier statements about the need for “more meaningful engagement” from Canada on defence spending and modernization.
