'We recognize there's more to do': Trudeau responds to U.S. senators' defence spending letter

Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.

Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.

Responding to a rare bipartisan letter sent by nearly two dozen U.S. senators demanding Canada meet the NATO commitment, the prime minister said: "We recognize there's more to do and we will be there to do it."

"Because we are the ones who are taking seriously Canada's defence needs, and making sure the women and men of our Armed Forces have the right equipment," Trudeau continued, speaking at an event in Nova Scotia.

"Not just to fulfil what their fellow Canadians expect of them, but what our allies around the world are counting on us to do."

On Thursday, as CNN reported, 23 U.S. senators – both Democrat and Republican – wrote to Trudeau imploring him to make good on Canada's commitment to spend two per cent of its GDP on defence. 

Canada has long been painted as a nation not carrying its weight when it comes to supporting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Now, with the 32-member military alliance's 75th anniversary on the horizon, pressure appears to be ramping up again for Canada to step up and join the 18 countries who are on track to meet the spending target by the end of the year.