US Suspends WWII-Era Defence Board With Canada In Latest Trump Pressure Move On Allies

The United States has suspended its participation in a historic joint defence board with Canada dating back to World War II , in a move widely seen as part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy of pressuring allies over military spending and political alignment.

The Pentagon announced Monday that Washington was pausing involvement in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense , accusing Canada of failing to make “credible progress” on defence commitments. US Undersecretary of Defence Elbridge Colby said America could no longer ignore “gaps between rhetoric and reality” regarding shared security responsibilities.

The decision comes amid worsening tensions between Washington and Ottawa over tariffs, trade disputes and Trump’s public feud with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump has repeatedly criticised Canada and NATO allies for relying too heavily on US military protection while underspending on defence.

At the 2025 NATO summit, member nations pledged to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 , although Canada has so far only committed to meeting the earlier 2 per cent target this year.

Analysts have compared the move to Trump’s recent decision to reduce some US troop deployments in Germany and Europe after disagreements with NATO allies. In both cases, Washington appeared to use military cooperation as leverage to pressure partners into increasing defence spending and aligning more closely with US strategic priorities.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon criticised the decision, warning that hostile rhetoric — including Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the “51st state” — was damaging bilateral ties.

Created under the Ogdensburg Agreement in 1940 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Mackenzie King , the board later helped shape NORAD , Cold War radar systems and North American continental defence. Despite the suspension, NORAD operations between the two countries continue normally.