Canada is preparing to increase its defense spending to meet NATO’s 2 percent target of gross domestic product (GDP). The slow pace of progress has drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers and concerns about how it impacts the alliance’s unity and readiness.

Speaking at the 70th annual session of the NATO parliamentary assembly in Montreal on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the Liberal record on defence spending, saying the government stepped up “big time” after it came to power in November 2015.