Defense Secretary Bill Blair says more aid is coming to Ukraine and Latvia

OTTAWA — Canada’s defense minister says the federal government is committed to supporting Ukraine.

Bill Blair meets NATO members in the Belgian capital, Brussels.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Blair says the Canadian government is donating 900 Canadian-built drones to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

In addition, Blair says, in close coordination with allies, a Canadian-led battle group in Latvia is being expanded to brigade size.

Blair’s latest announcement on Friday comes as NATO member countries continue to work to meet the group’s agreed target of spending two percent of GDP on their respective militaries.

According to NATO data, Canada spends an estimated 1.33% of GDP on its military budget.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 14, 2024.

The Canadian Press