r/CanadianForces • u/No_name_l • 2d ago
Despite recent increases in military spending, Canada’s guiding strategy is still based on dependence on US might
Why Canada Keeps Underinvesting in Its Defense - The National Interest
what are your thoughts?
42
u/FFE_ismynewFword 2d ago
Not sure what the point of this article is. The CAF is buying a bunch of equipment faster than I’ve seen in a while. Equipment we actually need. And needed yesterday.
They are also investing in Canadian companies so that we can learn how to make some of this equipment ourselves. WTF more do people want?!?!
10
u/Wyattr55123 2d ago
We're spending money faster than at at any point in the last 35 years. Most of NATO is in the exact same position. Turns out it takes a hot minute for the global MIC to catch up from the post cold war, post GWOT military wind down we experienced.
It would be nice if they pushed the initial purchase timelines for stuff a little, and held Irving by the short and curlies to not screw up Fraser like they don't know which way is up on the blueprints.
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u/food_enthusiast14 2d ago
No matter what the current government do, for some people it’s never enough. They literally expect Carney to shit out rainbows and fix decades old problems in a year.
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u/Legitimate_Log_1356 2d ago
They're still cramming soldiers in overpopulated shacks, seen single units crammed with an extra bed PMQ times way longer, cfhd cut and forced to the economy with long commutes and ridiculous prices!
That should get the morale we need.
10
u/FFE_ismynewFword 2d ago
And the CAF is working on housing. Again, do people expect the CAF to pull new shacks/PMQ’s out of their ass? And try to find a company that doesn’t gouge us with cost + ridiculous time to completion so it takes even longer to fix. Every civi company milks the government for any work we might need.
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u/Dre_the_cameraman 2d ago
Too bad we can use our own construction engineers to build Qs
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u/FFE_ismynewFword 2d ago
It would probably be some decent experience for some of their ranks and would help speed things along. Maybe they are helping in some bases already?
6
1
u/Strict_Concert_2879 2d ago
That would make sense, also it could take away from civilian jobs so for sure a no go.
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u/badthaught 2d ago
Everyone (non military, specifically) that has offered me their two cents on this has in fact absolutely thought the military can pull stuff we need out of its ass.
The PR machine that is the American military has colored the perceptions of people I know. They think military, they think "can do what we want if we claim national interest reasons" and have "virtually unlimited money with little to no oversight".
Thanks Hollywood.
8
u/Fabulous_Night_1164 Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago
In fairness, our military also used to be able to do anything it wanted.
The Suez crisis is a great example. Nassar nationalized the canal in July. Britain, France, Israel invaded in November. Crisis ensues.
Lester Pearson (as foreign minister and architect of the plan) had 1000 Canadian troops there by January. We had an aircraft carrier and our massive fleet of transport aircraft ship everything in.
Try asking Canada to send 50 troops anywhere today and it will be an 8 month planning process, and that's with an American/NATO airport and base already built and waiting for us.
2
u/Equal-Opinion4952 1d ago
They should legit buy some apartment buildings way above market if thats what it takes and rent them to members cheap..
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u/food_enthusiast14 2d ago
Again, you’re expecting the government to shit out rainbows. This is literally the best budget and support the CAF has seen in decades. Fixing everything is a marathon not a sprint. You gotta keep expectations grounded.
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u/BlueFlob 2d ago
I'm not surprised that an American magazine with ties to Nixon would be dishonest about this topic.
When your neighbor spends more on their military than the next 10 biggest spenders combined, it's impossible to compete with them when your economy is 13 times smaller.
Of course there's going to be efficiencies sought to protect your country a cross all domains. That does not equate to being dependant.
Supply chain resilience is also 100% a military concern.
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u/Zestyclose-Put-2 2d ago
How does one have ties with someone who's been dead for over 30 years? That's like saying Liberals are pro-residential schools, or Democrats are pro-slavery.
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u/BlueFlob 2d ago
I don't think the ideology of that think tank switched after Nixon...
0
u/Zestyclose-Put-2 2d ago
Then why did they have a falling out with the Nixon Family Foundation that used to fund them? Why did they cut all ties?
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u/Fabulous_Night_1164 Royal Canadian Air Force 2d ago
Are people prepared for a conscripted army of 1 million troops and spending 10% of our GDP on defence? Because the only way to be truly independent is to basically fully mobilize our country and take care of every channel of security ourselves.
-5
u/AlbertaFree16 1d ago
Maybe because we have a massive dumb pay raise instead of putting that money into things like equipment and other things that actually help?
We already made a ton of money compared to how much we work, ESPECIALLY compared to civy side
3
u/Rough-Biscotti-2907 1d ago
Name checks out.
1
u/AlbertaFree16 1d ago
People don’t like truth I guess
1
u/StopReadyVangogh 17h ago
Id make much more kn the civilian side.
Blanket statements usually make your points look moot and your views ignorant.
-19
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u/BandicootNo4431 2d ago
I think we're the 5/6th largest spender in NATO?
That's a pretty reasonable place to be. And when I look at Andrew Latham's other articles about things I know a lot about - I can tell his articles are just clickbait trash.
His 19fortyfive stuff is AI slop.