Trump Administration’s actions are poised to escalate the military presence in Washington, D.C. following the tragic shooting of two National Guard members. This event, occurring amidst an already tense political climate and a court order to reduce military presence, raises serious concerns about the administration’s intentions. It’s difficult to ignore the potential for this incident to be exploited to further an agenda of increased control and an authoritarian direction.
The timing of this shooting is, to put it mildly, suspect. Given the court order demanding the removal of troops, the fact that such an event occurred shortly after is extremely difficult to disregard.… Continue reading
A new amphibious warfare training center in Sørreisa, Norway, facilitates joint training for U.S., British, and Dutch personnel, bolstering NATO’s presence near Russia’s Arctic border. This initiative follows Norway’s significant investment in military infrastructure in the Troms region, totaling nearly $1.44 billion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The center’s establishment underscores heightened regional tensions, exemplified by recent Russian spy ship activity near Norwegian critical infrastructure. Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram emphasized the importance of collaborative training for regional and NATO security.
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Trump allies, and many Canadians themselves, are expressing growing impatience with Canada’s persistent failure to meet its NATO commitment on defense spending. Canada remains one of only eight NATO members not reaching the agreed-upon benchmark of 2% of GDP allocated to defense, currently hovering around 1.37%. This is especially striking considering Canada possesses the sixth-largest GDP among NATO allies yet ranks 27th in defense spending as a proportion of its GDP.
The discrepancy between Canada’s economic capacity and its defense expenditure is seen as particularly egregious by some. Comparisons are made to other nations facing far more challenging economic circumstances, yet still managing to meet the 2% target.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker