WASHINGTON — Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is to hold a first meeting today with his newly sworn-in American counterpart James Mattis.
The two former soldiers-turned-cabinet-members are to meet at the Pentagon for a scheduled 45-minute discussion on a broad range of topics including military co-operation both abroad and closer to home.
Key questions could include the ongoing commitment to NATO, defence spending levels, and peacekeeping operations.
The Canadian government delayed a planned peacekeeping deployment to Africa following the U.S. election, saying it wants to first discuss a variety of global issues with its closest ally.
That peacekeeping conversation could happen today.
Trump's election has prompted uncertainty on several military fronts — he has suggested NATO is becoming obsolete, while at the same time demanding that NATO allies increase defence spending.
He has also been more supportive than his predecessor of Russia, which has caused anxiety in Eastern Europe.
One Canadian-American military analyst said today's conversation could provide some clarity.
Steve Saideman says it'll be interesting to see what aspect of NATO gets discussed — will they focus on what Trump has talked about, increasing spending, or on what he hasn't — protecting Eastern Europe from Russian incursions?
"Which NATO issue comes up might actually provide you with some guidance about what's going on in this administration," said Saideman, an American-born international-relations scholar at Carleton University in Ottawa.
Aside from the future of NATO, he expects them to discuss two other topics — Canada's peacekeeping plans and fighter-jet procurement. As for NORAD, Saideman doesn't believe missile-defence is a major priority for Trump's team.
Trump has sowed uncertainty on several of these fronts. He's complained about the cost of the F-35, a staple of the U.S. fighter-jet program. Also, in his inauguration speech Trump heaped scorn on the U.S. habit of defending other countries.
Mattis spent last weekend in Asia, reassuring traditional U.S. allies. During the campaign, the president questioned why the U.S. should spend money securing Japan and South Korea — he went as far as suggesting, at one point, that they should get their own nuclear weapons.
Trump later dialled that back. But he said he wants allies spending more on defence. That was also the policy of the previous Obama administration and the former president even made that request in Canada's Parliament.
Barack Obama, however, delivered it with a slightly softer touch. In fact, he received a standing ovation from Canadian parliamentarians last year after saying: "The world needs more Canada. NATO needs more Canada."
It's unclear where that conversation goes now.
Canada is 23rd among 27 NATO countries in terms of spending as a share of GDP. Canada's 2016 spending of 0.99 per cent of GDP was less than half the NATO guideline of two per cent, which only five NATO countries currently meet.
Saideman said he's keen to hear what the new defence secretary says.
"With the caveat of: I don't believe anything that Mattis says binds this administration. ... Mattis is in the outer circle — and has been bypassed on major issues."
