NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says he is "fairly confident" Canada will be able to meet the alliance's higher defence spending target, which will likely be set at the next leaders' summit at the end of June.

Canada will meet NATO’s military spending guideline by early next year and diversify defense spending away from the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday, asserting that Washington no longer plays a predominant role on the world stage.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada could no longer be dependent on the US for its security, and must act to secure its own borders.