Canada’s 200 soldier promise to UN peacekeeping ‘under discussion’: Minister
Global News
Defence Minister Anita Anand says while the Liberal government's promise to provide a 200-soldier force to United Nations peacekeeping is being considered.
Defence Minister Anita Anand says while the Liberal government’s promise to provide a 200-soldier force to United Nations peacekeeping “is not off the table,” it is being considered alongside Canada’s many other international priorities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first pledged the quick reaction force to a future UN mission while hosting an international peacekeeping summit in Vancouver in 2017, yet the Liberal government has yet to make good on the promise.
That is despite the UN having said it needs such forces now, and the U.S. having asked Canada last month to fulfil its commitment.
Washington’s request came ahead of a follow-up summit in South Korea, where countries were asked to provide new commitments to fill gaps in both funding and peacekeeping missions in the field in Africa and elsewhere..
While Anand made no mention of the quick reaction force while attending the Seoul summit online on Dec. 2, the minister told The Canadian Press in an interview this week that the promise has not been abandoned — at least not yet.
“It is not off the table, but it is something that is still under discussion,” she said.
The minister indicated those discussions involve considering not only Canada’s commitment to the UN, but also its promises to the NATO military alliance and support to countries such as Ukraine, where Canada has 200 military trainers.
Anand did not offer a timeline on a decision, but the UN recently said it currently needs five quick-reaction forces to help provide security to peacekeeping missions in Africa and elsewhere.
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