France’s ambassador to Canada slammed Canada’s underfunded military as Canada’s geopolitical enemies ramp up their militaristic ambitions.
In an interview with the National Post, Amb. Michel Miraillet ridiculed Canada for its lack of investment in the military, as well as a withdrawal from international peacekeeping duties.
Miraillet remarked that Canada’s lack of vigilance results from overreliance on the safety granted by sharing a land border with the United States, the most powerful military in the world and a close ally of Canada.
“It’s always difficult for a country that by its nature is highly protected, with a big guy below who is a big pain in the neck but at the end of the day, well, it works,” said Miraillet.
The French ambassador alluded to Canada’s military being third-rate and only being able to sustain itself with the help of the American military.
“You’re very French, you’re riding a first-class carriage with a third-class ticket…. If you want to remain in the first-class seat, you need to train and expand and to go somewhere.”
As part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), member countries are urged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on the nation’s defence.
As of 2021, Canada ranked 25th out of 29 NATO countries in military spending as a share of GDP, contributing just 1.36%, down from 2020’s 1.44%.
For comparison, the ninth place France spent 1.93% of their GDP on military spending, the United States spent 3.57%, and the first place Greece spent 3.59%.
Despite a 2014 commitment to bring Canada’s military spending up to 2%, the Trudeau government has been unable to follow through on the pledge.
Miraillet recalled the past when Canada had a more active role in United Nations peacekeeping missions, as in 1993, over 3,300 Canadian troops were deployed, while only 54 Canadians are deployed in peacekeeping roles this year.
“At the end of the day, I have the feeling that in military terms, this country is less present than it was 10 or 15 years ago,” said Miraillet. “Canada was far more present in the past in Africa than it is now…. There is a need to have more Canada on the ground, not only in Africa but also in Asia.”
In June 2022, NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated a similar message, chiding Canada for falling far from the NATO recommendation.
“I expect all allies to meet the guidelines that we have set,” he said. “So of course, this is a message to all allies, including Canada,” said Stoltenberg.
