Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged Monday that his country's government will invest billions more in supporting its armed forces and achieve the NATO target of 2 percent of GDP on military spending during the current fiscal year.

According to Qatar News Agency, Carney emphasized the urgent need for this action, citing the United States' gradual withdrawal from collective security as a motivating factor. He highlighted the strategic competition between emerging great powers and the risk of a new imperialism, noting that middle powers are striving for interests and attention to avoid being sidelined.

Carney outlined plans to enhance Canada's military capabilities by increasing wages for armed forces personnel and acquiring new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles, artillery, as well as radar, drones, and sensors for monitoring the seabed and the Arctic. He asserted that these military developments would also bolster Canada's economy.

Canada has faced significant pressure from the United States and other NATO members to boost its military funding, which currently stands at approximately 1.4 percent of its GDP.