Canada tells NATO allies it will replace country’s submarine fleet

Canadian government officials this week announced plans to purchase 12 nonnuclear submarines capable of operating under the ice to “protect its sovereignty in a changing world.” Canada has the largest coastline in the world and is grappling with warming trends that are making its Arctic region more accessible to maritime traffic.

The decision will let Canada make “valuable high-end contributions to the security of our partners and NATO allies,” Defense Minister Bill Blair said Wednesday during Washington’s NATO summit.

“We look forward to delivering this new fleet to the Royal Canadian Navy,” he said.

The announcement at the NATO summit could be seen as an attempt to blunt criticism of Ottawa’s failure to meet the alliance’s defense spending benchmark of 2% of its gross domestic product. Canada spends 1.38% of its GDP on defense, ahead of Slovenia but less than Italy. It has plans to increase defense spending to 1.76% of GDP by the end of the decade.

Canada has a fleet of four submarines that it purchased secondhand from the British in the late 1990s. The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project will help the country to deter maritime threats and project power and striking capability farther from its shores, officials said.

Canada’s Defense Department is meeting with manufacturers and potential partners as part of the CPSP. It will issue a formal request this fall from potential bidders that can build submarines for Canada.

“This procurement will enable Canada to develop closer ties with its allies and partners and establish a strategic partnership that not only delivers the submarines themselves, but creates a durable relationship between Canada and its strategic partners to support personnel training and the sharing of information,” defense officials said in a statement. 

The procurement of a dozen patrol submarines is part of the Canadian government’s plan to devote $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over 20 years to new defense spending, officials said.

“This builds on historic investments the federal government has made to date to support members of our armed forces, strengthen Canada’s defense capabilities and respond to global challenges,” they said.