There was a particularly striking moment last week in Warsaw as Prime Minister Mark Carney renewed his friendship with Poland's Donald Tusk, a flash that subtly captured the stark choices Canada will likely face in the not-too-distant future.

Carney was genuine in his praise of the Eastern European country's wholehearted, enthusiastic embrace of NATO and the Western alliance's defence spending targets.

"We learn much from the prime minister, from his government, including the importance of pulling our full weight in NATO," Carney said.

It was an off-script, telling remark about the difference between Poland and Canada when it comes to defence spending.

"It will take us a few years to reach the Polish levels of commitment. But it's possible, and we have made that commitment. We will qua

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