US pauses joint defense body with Canada dating back to WWII

The United States has announced it is pausing its participation in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess the effectiveness of the forum within broader North American security cooperation.

On May 18, US Undersecretary of Defencs Elbridge Colby wrote on social media that his department would halt its involvement in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to “reassess” the forum’s benefits, Caliber.Az reports. 

A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to make credible progress on its defense commitments. DoW is pausing the Permanent Joint Board on Defense to reassess how this forum benefits shared North American…

— Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby (@USWPColby) May 18, 2026

“A strong Canada that prioritizes hard power over rhetoric benefits us all,” Colby wrote on X, adding that Canada had “failed to make credible progress” on its defense obligations. 

He said the United States Department of War was reviewing how the long-standing mechanism contributes to shared continental defense.

Colby argued that closer alignment on military responsibilities is necessary, stating that “real powers must sustain our rhetoric with shared defense and security responsibilities” and that security in North America depends on increased investment in defense capabilities by both countries.

The Permanent Joint Board on Defense, a bilateral advisory body established in 1940 under the Ogdensburg Agreement between the United States and Canada during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, has long served as a key forum for military coordination between the two countries.

The board was created during World War II to strengthen continental defense cooperation and has since functioned as a high-level consultative mechanism on shared security issues.

By Sabina Mammadli