WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a high-flying tale of carrots, sticks and political flip-flops.

American leaders have been urging Canada to boost its military spending and NATO contributions since the alliance’s founding, back in 1949. Some, like former U.S. president Barack Obama, have been polite about it, encouraging Ottawa that “the world needs more Canada,” while others, especially U.S. President Donald Trump, have been more blunt, referring to Canadians as “freeloaders” who are “delinquent” on military contributions.

In other words, there has long been a bipartisan U.S. view on Canadian defence spending needs, and Ottawa has been pushed with both carrots and sticks to spend more.

So U.S. defence officials supported Canada’s 2022 selection of the F-35, with the intent of buying 88 U.S.-mad

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