Canada extending mission in Latvia amid NATO effort to deter Russian threat
Global News
NATO allies including Canada pledged to spend two per cent of their GDP on defence in 2014. Few have hit that target, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine is raising pressures.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is extending the military mission in Latvia as part of a continued NATO effort to stave off further Russian aggression following its invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago.
But he offered little clarity when asked whether Canada will boost domestic spending on the military to hit the promised two per cent of GDP target agreed to by NATO allies in 2014.
“We understand the urgency that is presented right now in the world with Ukrainians standing strong against this illegal Russian invasion,” Trudeau said when asked about whether Canada will increase spending to meet the NATO target and urgently replace the weapons being offered to Ukraine.
“Those weapons are much more useful and in the coming weeks in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers fighting for their lives than they would be in Canadian hands. But of course, we need to make sure we replace those weapons rapidly.”
Operation Reassurance is currently Canada’s largest military deployment abroad.
It was set to expire in 2023.
The mission sees Canada leading a battle group of troops from NATO nations with the goal of deterring Russian aggression into the Baltic countries that form the military alliance’s eastern flank.
Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand spoke from Latvia, where they have been meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as part of a visit to Europe to discuss Russia’s war.
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