Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to enhance Canadian-American relations in a series of high-level political and economic meetings before the NATO summit in Washington.

On Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning, he met with a group of bipartisan American senators, including Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.

Later on Tuesday, he met with Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

The Prime Minister's office, in a readout of the discussions, stated that Trudeau "emphasized updating Canadian defense policy, stating that our north is strong and free, and that there is a renewed vision for Canadian defense, which includes new investments that will equip the Canadian Armed Forces with the necessary tools and capabilities they need to defend Canada and protect North America."

However, at least one strong voice in the Senate remained unconvinced.

McConnell, in a post late Tuesday on X, stated that shared values and close economic ties have always been a strength of the relationship between the United States and Canada, "but it is time for our northern ally to seriously invest in the hard power needed to help maintain security and prosperity across NATO."

The meetings with lawmakers followed a Monday meeting with Joshua Bolten, the CEO of the influential American Business Roundtable.

In May, a group of 23 Democratic and Republican U.S. senators sent a letter to Trudeau urging the Liberal government to increase its defense spending to 2% of the GDP standard agreed upon by NATO allies in 2023.

The letter marked an unusual end to the Biden administration, which has generally taken a measured approach to dealing with Canadian defense spending.

During Tuesday's meetings with American Senate leaders, reporters only asked Trudeau about ongoing health concerns related to President Joe Biden – a question the Prime Minister sidestepped.

Canada's Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman said she had not met with the senators who signed the letter but had reached out to some of them through a bipartisan committee of American lawmakers dealing with U.S.-Canada relations.

She stated that security discussions with the United States are about more than just the NATO 2% standard.

Hillman told Canadian reporters, "The conversations are not just one note. They are complex." "They are serious, and we are taking it seriously."

The meeting with the business roundtable was significant as leading Canadian business figures warned Trudeau last month in a letter that the country faces diplomatic and economic isolation if it does not present NATO with a clear, verifiable plan to meet the alliance's spending goal.

In speaking before the business council on Monday, Bolten, who served as White House Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, delivered a firm yet conciliatory address.

Bolten stated, "We face shared challenges, not only in the security environment, which you are here to discuss with other NATO leaders, but also in the economic environment." "And the United States has no closer economic partner than Canada in facing those challenges."

In a statement following the meeting, the Prime Minister's office said that Trudeau and Bolten emphasized the importance of secure and resilient supply chains to keep the U.S.-Canada industrial base strong.