NATO's 2 per cent military spending benchmark is 'self-evident': Finnish president

The president of NATO's newest member nationsaidthe military alliance's twoper cent defence spending target seems "self-evident" to him even as a debate rages over the fact thatmost NATO members, Canada included, are not meeting the target.

In an interview airing Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live, Finnish President Sauli Niinistsaid the Nordic country is committed to its current level of defence spending around two per cent of GDP.NATO members pledgedin 2006 to spend two per cent of their national GDP on defence.

"I think that it's self-evident ... To me, as a Finn, we usually do what we agree [to do],"Niinisttold host Rosemary Barton.

"It's an agreement. To follow it is self-evident."

WATCH | Finnish president discusses NATO membership, war in Ukraine:[MEDIA]

Intelligence leaks that became public last month reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told allies Canada would never honour the NATO defence spending commitment.

Canada currently spends around 1.3 per cent of its GDP on defence. Only a handful of NATO's 31 member countries includingthe United States and the United Kingdom are spending two per cent ormore.

Finland applied to join NATO last year following Russia's escalation of its invasion of Ukraine. It formally became a member last month.

Article Fiveof NATO'sNorth Atlantic Treaty says that "an armed attack against one or more [NATO members]in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."

Niinist, who has been Finland's head of state for over a decade,said pursuing membership was the right decision for his country. He addedthat Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometreborder with Russia,has a lot to contribute to NATO.

"Finland maximizes its security and, surely, takes responsibility for others' security too,"Niinistsaid.

Like Canada, Finlandis transitioning from the F/A-18 Hornet fighter to the F-35 Lightning. Niinistsaid that, international hockey rivalry aside, the two countries have many other thingsin common.

"We have always felt some similarities with our societies, and we've have always had very good relations,"Niinistsaid, pointing out the two countries' shared focus on Arctic security.

But unlike Canada, Finland has mandatory military conscription for male citizens. The Finnish Defence Forces train22,000 conscripts every year, according to the Finnish military.

Niinistsaid Finland's high proportion of citizens with military training makes it stand out in comparison to mostNATO countries. He added that he hopes Finland's NATO membership will mean it never has to see battle.

"I emphasize the preventative side of our alliance," he said. "But we understand very well that we have to maintain our strong army."

Sweden awaits membership

Finland's application to join NATO was part of a joint application with its Nordic neighbour, Sweden.

But Turkey has held up Sweden's bid for NATO membership, alleging that StockholmsupportsKurdish nationalist groups in Turkey. Sweden has strengthened its anti-terror laws to improve its prospects for joining NATO.

Niinistsaid Finland isn't pleased with the delay.

"We didn't want to be separated from Sweden," he said. "The Finnish membership is not complete without Swedenand we are doing our best to promote Sweden."