The $30 million pause in defense talks

The US has suspended planned biannual defense talks with Canada, citing concerns over Ottawa's failure to take steps to become a 'credible' security partner, including hiking military spending and completing a review of an F-35 fighter jet acquisition.

A Pentagon official said on Thursday that the US decision to suspend talks follows deepening concern that Canada is not making the hard decisions and tradeoffs needed to put it on track to become a credible partner in the mutual defense of the continent.

The Pentagon announced on May 18 that it was 'pausing' its participation in the US-Canada Permanent Joint Board on Defense, the senior advisory body on North American continental defense established in 1940.

Canada's 2% defense spending target: a long way off

A Pentagon official said that Canada needs a plan, backed by resources, to raise its core defense spending target from 2% annually to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

The official also accused Canada of putting politics ahead of military readiness through its long-delayed review of plans to buy 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets.

The review was supposed to wrap up by around September 2025 but has not been completed, amid increasing tension with the United States over trade and suggestions Canada might split the fleet, cutting back on the F-35s and buying some Gripen jets from Swedish company Saab.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The US official acknowledged that the PJBD halt would not impact NORAD operations , calling it 'critical to securing the northern approaches to the US and Canadian homelands.'

However, the move comes after months of escalating tensions between the two countries, including a dispute over trade and suggestions Canada might split the fleet, cutting back on the F-35s and buying some Gripen jets from Swedish company Saab.

The Canadian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

According to the Pentagon official,Canada needs to make the hard decisions and tradeoffs needed to put it on track to become a credible partner in the mutual defense of the continent.

The official also accused Canada of putting politics ahead of military readiness through its long-delayed review of plans to buy 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets .

The review was supposed to wrap up by around September 2025 but has not been completed, amid increasing tension with the United States over trade and suggestions Canada might split the fleet, cutting back on the F-35s and buying some Gripen jets from Swedish company Saab.