On May 13, 2024, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosted his Canadian counterpart, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair, for a bilateral meeting at the Pentagon. The two leaders discussed cooperation through NATO to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine, and their shared commitment to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization, Canada's Defence Policy Update, defense spending, Haiti, Middle East security, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, pledging to continue providing assistance to strengthen Ukraine's security and sovereignty over the long term. They also reaffirmed the importance of our nations' investment in modern, ready, and capable forces, steps to advance NORAD modernization, and close coordination on a range of other bilateral and global issues.
They also emphasized the continuing commitment of the United States and Canada to work together to improve security in Haiti, in collaboration with regional and international partners.
