National

Canada in talks about adding forces to Europe

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Feb, 2022 03:33 PM

OTTAWA - Defence Minister Anita Anand says the government believes in the importance of bolstering NATO’s eastern flank in response to Russia’s military buildup, and that discussions are underway around increasing Canada's military presence in eastern Europe.

Yet even as the United States became the latest NATO member to commit more forces to the region with the deployment of 3,000 additional troops to Europe, Anand is declining to say when a Canadian decision could come.

Anand made the comments in an interview with The Canadian Press from Latvia, her last stop on a three-country tour that included visits to Ukraine and NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss the military alliance’s standoff with Russia.

I met today with Latvia’s Prime Minister, @krisjaniskarins. Canada was the first G7 country to recognize the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991, and one of the first countries to ratify Latvia's accession to @NATO. We stand in solidarity with our Latvian allies. pic.twitter.com/XoHRm4Td6V
— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) February 2, 2022

Canada has about 600 troops leading a NATO battlegroup in Latvia tasked with defending against any Russian attack, along with around 200 military trainers in Ukraine.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed NATO for the tensions, Anand accuses the Kremlin of starting this latest crisis and says it is up to Russia to ease the situation.

Anand says one of her aims while in Europe was to reassure friends and allies that Canada continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, even as she consulted on what more is needed in the region.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadians vote overwhelmingly for climate action

The Conservative climate plan in 2019 was widely panned as lacking in both detail and ambition, something Erin O'Toole acknowledged was a weakness. He made a climate plan a priority after he took over the leadership in 2020, releasing a climate plan months ahead of the election that included a form of carbon pricing, reversing more than a decade of Conservative policy that carbon pricing was "a tax on everything."

Canadians vote overwhelmingly for climate action

COVID-19 safety rules too weak at polls: workers

Mary Rose Amaral says she wanted to participate in democracy by working at a Toronto voting station, despite being immunocompromised with asthma, and she expected Elections Canada to take more precautions to protect its employees.

COVID-19 safety rules too weak at polls: workers

O'Toole's leadership should be reviewed: member

In the leadership race, O'Toole campaigned as the "true blue" conservative, making promises like axing the Liberals' carbon price, only to introduce one of his own after winning.

O'Toole's leadership should be reviewed: member

Endangered orca off B.C. likely dead: researchers

A statement from the Center for Whale Research in Washington state says a 47-year-old female identified as L47 has not been seen for nearly seven months and is likely dead.

Endangered orca off B.C. likely dead: researchers

Stanley Park reopens following coyote cull

The Vancouver Park Board says a small number of coyotes are still believed to be in the park but they are not an immediate threat to the public. The park has been reopened to 24-hours a day.

Stanley Park reopens following coyote cull

Schools, parents to be notified about COVID cases

Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday that parents and teachers from across the province have let it be known they need to be informed about the transmission of the virus and that a new system is expected to be in place by the end of the week.