BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Defence spending by NATO's European members and Canada rose by 20% in 2024, compared to the previous year, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday. NATO members are facing renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to ramp up their defence spending, which he frequently demanded during his first term in office.

European Union governments are considering a wider definition of what is defence investment to allow for more government spending that would not trigger punitive EU action for excessive borrowing under the bloc's fiscal rules,

Speaking in Halifax, Transport Minister Anita Anand says the federal government is looking at ways to speed up defence spending to reach the NATO target of two percent of GDP before 2032.