U.S. Pauses Long-Standing Defense Board With Canada, Cites Spending Gap
The U.S. undersecretary of defense announced a pause on a 1940s military cooperation forum, citing Canada's defense spending shortfalls.
The United States just hit pause on one of North America's oldest defense institutions—the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, established in 1940—over what Washington says is Canada's failure to meet its defense spending commitments.
Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defense, announced the move on social media, saying the department is pausing the forum "to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American defense." It's the latest friction point in a relationship that's been under strain, particularly around NATO spending targets and continental security obligations.
The board was created as an advisory mechanism for bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries—not flashy, not high-profile, but functionally important for coordinating military strategy, intelligence, and resource planning. Its pause signals a shift in how seriously Washington views the partnership's foundation.
Canadian politicians have been quick to weigh in. Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole called out the move as a pressure tactic. For Toronto residents, it's worth parsing: this isn't about troops or weapons; it's about the diplomatic infrastructure holding North American defense strategy together. When that infrastructure gets questioned, it ripples.