U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said Monday that Washington would suspend activities of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, or PJBD, a bilateral body responsible for coordinating military cooperation and defense policy between the United States and Canada, according to The Hill.
The PJBD, which includes military officials and civilian representatives from both countries, has met twice a year to coordinate joint defense policies.
Colby said the decision was made because Canada had failed to show “credible progress” in meeting its defense commitments, adding that Washington would reassess how the PJBD contributes to the joint defense of North America.
In the same post on X, Colby shared a video of Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.
In the speech, Carney called for middle powers to unite against the influence of superpowers such as the United States and China, remarks widely seen as criticism of Trump’s approach to alliances.
Colby’s decision to share the video while announcing the suspension of PJBD activities could be interpreted as a sign of Washington’s displeasure with Carney’s remarks.
The Trump administration has also reacted sharply to calls within Canada to reduce purchases of U.S.-made weapons.
Canada had planned to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, but the government is reportedly reviewing the plan.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra warned that if Canada decides not to purchase the F-35s, there could be changes to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, system.
NORAD, established in 1958 during the Cold War to counter threats from the former Soviet Union, is a U.S.-Canada command responsible for aerospace warning and defense of North America.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.