Canada is experiencing a surge in military enlistment applications as the country grapples with tariff pressure and accusations of "security free-riding" from the Trump administration. More than half of Canadians say they "cannot trust the United States in a crisis," signaling deteriorating relations between the longtime allies even among ordinary citizens.
According to Politico on the 24th (local time), Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty announced new military housing plans and revealed that "recruitment to the Canadian Armed Forces has increased 13% over the past eight months."
Regarding the military's rising popularity, McGuinty explained: "Applicants are fully committed to the project called 'Canada' right now. I believe this stems from their desire for Canada to remain a safe and independent nation."
The trend follows relentless pressure on Canada since the Trump administration took office. President Trump labeled Canada "the NATO member that pays the least in defense spending," raised free-riding accusations, and imposed high tariffs on automobiles, steel, aluminum, lumber, and energy products.
Trump has also repeatedly stated he would like Canada to "become the 51st state." On the 10th, he demanded Canada share half the revenue to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting the two countries, sparking controversy. Tensions are mounting ahead of the July joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which provides duty-free benefits.
Polls reflect the souring public sentiment. A joint survey by British polling firm Public First and Politico on the 19th found that 58% of Canadian respondents said "the United States is not a reliable ally," while 57% said they "cannot trust the United States in a crisis." Two-thirds (69%) agreed that "the United States tends to cause problems for other countries rather than solve them."
In response, Canada is bolstering its military capabilities, pledging an additional 80 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 84.12 trillion won) over five years to meet NATO's 2% defense spending target. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on the United States—long cited as a weakness—and stimulate the economy through increased domestic defense production. Ottawa has promised to create 125,000 new defense-sector jobs over 10 years and raise military salaries by 20% to fill a 15,000-person shortfall in its 71,500-member regular forces.