Canada is suddenly signing up soldiers at a pace it has not seen in decades, and the reason is hard to miss. The country feels less safe than it did a year ago.
The Canadian Armed Forces recruited 7,310 people in 2025, their highest intake in 30 years and more than the government’s target of 6,957. For a military long criticized for shortages and aging capacity, that is not just a recruitment win. It is a sign that Canada’s political mood has shifted.
Canada's Changing Neighborhood
Canada is rearming, recruiting, and spending because the world around it has changed. Russia’s war, NATO pressure, and global instability all matter, but it's Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada that have impacted the situation most.
Canada’s Defense Minister David McGuinty said new recruits want Canada to remain “safe and sovereign.” That phrase captures the mood. For years, Canadian defense debates sounded distant, but now the country's safety and security don't seem so sure.
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