The new pledge NATO members have made to each other includes a promise to spend 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product on “core military capabilities” such as troops and weapons, and a further 1.5 per cent on defence-related infrastructure and readiness. “These investments won’t just build our military capacity—they will build our industries and create good, high-paying jobs at home,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said. Only Poland already meets that 3.5 per cent target, according to NATO figures for 2024. (The Logic)

Talking point: At Canada’s 2024 GDP of slightly under $3.1 trillion, meeting the five per cent total pledge now would mean spending about $154 billion, including $107.5 billion in direct military expenses. The Liberals’ recent military spending hike increased the Defence Department’s budget to about $44.3 billion, plus about $1.6 billion for the separate Communications Security Establishment cyber agency. Even adding things like the coast guard’s $2.8-billion budget and $7.8 billion for Veterans Affairs (much of which NATO will count as military spending), Carney’s promise means Canada will have to spend tens of billions of dollars more on defence every year.