Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre has once again taken aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him a “human piñata” during the recent NATO summit in Brussels.
Poilievre, who serves as the Conservative Party’s finance critic, criticized Trudeau for not committing to the alliance’s spending goal of 2% of GDP on defense. This goal was set by NATO members in 2014, with the aim of increasing military capabilities and readiness.
During the summit, Trudeau announced that Canada would be increasing its defense budget by 70% over the next decade, but did not specify a target percentage of GDP. This falls short of the 2% goal, which has been a point of contention for the United States and other NATO members.
In a statement, Poilievre accused Trudeau of being a “human piñata” at the summit, saying that he was being “pounded by other leaders for not pulling his weight.” He also criticized Trudeau for not standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with NATO members not meeting the 2% goal.
Poilievre’s comments come as no surprise, as the Conservative Party has been consistently critical of Trudeau’s handling of defense spending. They have accused him of not taking the issue seriously and putting Canada’s security at risk.
Trudeau, on the other hand, has defended his decision to not commit to the 2% goal, stating that Canada’s contributions to NATO go beyond just military spending. He highlighted Canada’s involvement in peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid efforts as examples of the country’s commitment to the alliance.
Despite the criticism from Poilievre and others, Trudeau remains firm in his stance that Canada’s contributions to NATO are significant and in line with the country’s capabilities.
The issue of defense spending will continue to be a point of contention for NATO members, with the United States pushing for increased contributions from its allies. As for Canada, it remains to be seen if they will eventually commit to the 2% goal or continue to prioritize other forms of support for the alliance.
