Canada will reassure allies of its commitment to the Western alliance as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travels to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in a NATO leaders' summit at a critical time for war-torn Ukraine.

The 32 NATO countries are set to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the alliance's founding in the same city where the original treaty was signed. Trudeau will attend a dinner with NATO leaders at the White House hosted by President Joe Biden, where the age and mental acuity of the U.S. leader is expected to cast a shadow over the historic meeting.

“All eyes are on the United States,” said Ferry de Kerckhove, a former high-ranking Canadian diplomat.

The world will be watching to see how Biden handles the three-day summit after a performance that faced widespread criticism during the recent presidential debate.

The upcoming elections and the possibility of Donald Trump taking office for a second term loom as a concern for the long-standing defensive alliance, as Trump has repeatedly claimed he would not defend NATO members who fail to meet defense spending targets.

Canada is one of those member countries but has repeatedly defended itself for not meeting the target.

Defense Minister Bill Blair points to NATO figures showing that Canadian defense spending grew by 67 percent between 2014 and 2021, with its spending increasing from 1 percent of GDP to nearly 1.4 percent.

Canada is expected to spend 1.37 percent this year, which is well below the target, but Blair said he expects spending to rise to at least 1.75 percent by 2029, with additional spending on a new submarine fleet and integrated air and missile defense systems likely to drive up the spending. The anticipated figure is 2%.

These promises may not reassure Canada’s allies amid concerning tensions with Russia, North Korea, and China.

De Kerckhove asked, “Can we really convince the people around the table and the Americans that we will participate in a timely manner?”

The ongoing war in Ukraine will be front and center, and bilateral security agreements are expected to be signed. However, Ariel Brown, a professor of International Relations and Political Science at the University of Toronto, said the summit is unlikely to go as far as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes.

Brown said, “This summit... could be a turning point for Ukraine: what will NATO do?”

A Canadian government official who spoke on background said Trudeau, accompanied by Blair and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, will make strong comments on the need to remain firm in supporting Ukraine, amid rising doubts about the continuation of fighting in Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.

NATO member countries have spent the equivalent of CAD 59 billion annually on military equipment for Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that he expects leaders to agree on a substantial package for Ukraine that "forms a bridge to NATO membership."

Members have overwhelmingly supported Ukraine, but they are cautious about being drawn into a wider conflict with Russia.

Hungary reached an agreement last month not to veto NATO's efforts at the upcoming summit to support Ukraine, as long as the region is not compelled to help.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced condemnation from Kyiv and some European leaders after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, where he said they discussed peace proposals in Ukraine.

Brown, who is also a fellow at Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, said he would look for further details regarding the promise made at last year’s summit when NATO leaders agreed to expedite Ukraine's membership process. That is unlikely to become a reality for many years, and Brown noted that the prospects for Ukraine's membership may be tied to concessions that Zelensky may not be happy with.

Brown asked, “Are they offering a bridge or selling a bridge?”

Trudeau will also use his time in Washington to hold other meetings in the city to bolster Team Canada's efforts ahead of the U.S. elections to ensure the government is prepared for any outcome. He will meet with both Republican and Democratic politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Trudeau, whose Liberal party came to power in October 2015, faced criticism for not being prepared for Trump’s first presidency following the 2016 U.S. election, and their relationship was notably strained throughout the Republican leader's four-year term.

Experts say achieving defense funding targets will go a long way in strengthening the relationship with Canada’s largest trading partner.