Russian troops stormed Ukraine on the morning of February 24, invading by land and sea as airstrikes rained down on cities, in a total attack unlike anything seen in Europe since World War II. The months that followed left thousands dead, millions more displaced, led to famine and fuel shortages, and fundamentally changed the world order. Now the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is ready to begin a major overhaul of the Cold War alliance’s deterrent capabilities at a leaders’ summit in Spain, but Canada’s role in the new defense strategy remains uncertain. NATO leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trindade, have gathered in Madrid for a landmark summit to discuss how to respond to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. “We are in the midst of the most serious security crisis we have faced since World War II,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said as he arrived at the summit on Wednesday. “It will be a transformational summit because we will make historic decisions.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the leaders at the beginning of the meeting. Russia, meanwhile, has launched new attacks on civilians in the country – most recently with a rocket attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk in central Ukraine on Monday that killed at least 18 people. NATO has steadily stepped up its presence since the first hints of a possible invasion in January, effectively dissolving its forces to prevent Russia from choosing a battle with an allied nation. If Russia were to cross into NATO territory, it would spark an international war between dozens of countries, as an attack on an allied nation would be considered an attack on all 30. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO as one of the excuses for the invasion. At the G7 in the Bavarian Alps in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Solz outlined the thin lines that leaders must walk. “We are making tough decisions,” Soltz told the media during a walk to the G7 summit with Trinto on Monday. “We are also careful to help Ukraine as much as possible, but we also avoid a major conflict between Russia and NATO.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said more troops are needed now and that increased preparedness will be needed to keep Russia away. Canada’s main contribution to the anti-Russian front is in Latvia, a Baltic nation along Russia’s western border, where Canada has led a 2,000-strong battle group since 2017. Similar units, led by Germany, Britain and the United States, are spreading along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO members agreed to set up four more battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, effectively expanding the alliance’s eastern front into the Black Sea. Earlier this week, Stoltenberg said the number of troops on these battle groups would double to 3,000 to 5,000. The alliance also dramatically increases the number of forces that would be ready to respond quickly in the event of a full-scale war from 40,000 to 300,000. The question is whether Canada will contribute these troops and the funds it needs to keep them ready for possible action. “It certainly seems that the alliance wants to make some specific announcements about increased real potential, for higher readiness for the alliance, and I’m interested in seeing whether or not we have more gas in that tank,” said David Perry, a defense and foreign policy analyst. for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Trinto said he would talk about it with other leaders. “We, like others, are developing plans to be able to escalate quickly,” Trinto told a news conference at the end of the G7 summit in Germany on Tuesday. In a one-on-one meeting with Trinto ahead of Wednesday’s NATO summit, Stoltenberg praised Canada for its contribution to the alliance. “It’s wonderful to see how much Canada is really playing a key role in strengthening NATO deterrence and defense in the midst of the most serious security crisis we’ve faced since World War II in Europe,” he told Trinto in a small conference room at the lowest level. level. of the conference center where the summit took place. However, Canada is not already fulfilling a promise to NATO to devote 2% of its gross domestic product to military defense. The members of the 30-member military alliance agreed on the goal in 2014 and are expected to be at the forefront when the leaders meet on Wednesday. A report published by Stoltenberg estimates that Canada’s defense spending will decline as a percentage of GDP to 1.27 percent this year, from 1.32 percent last year and 1.42 percent in 2020. Leaders should also discuss a plan to exit the war, said Robert Baines of NATO Canada. “I think NATO leaders said, ‘Well, we’re with Ukraine for as long as Ukraine needs us.’ And then try to square this circle and say, okay, so there is no exit strategy. “This is always challenging,” Baines said. The summit will also welcome new potential partners in Europe and Asia. Delegations from Sweden and Finland, which have applied for NATO membership, will attend, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will be the first leaders from their respective countries to attend. NATO summit. This Canadian Press report was first published on June 29, 2022. With archives from Lee Berthiaume in Ottawa
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title: “Canada S Role Is Uncertain As Nato Begins A Major Overhaul " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-05” author: “Kurt Kershaw”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he expects all members of the military alliance to increase their defense spending, including Canada. All NATO members agreed in 2014 to increase their defense spending to 2% of their gross domestic product within a decade, a goal Stoltenberg said NATO leaders re-committed during a summit in Spain today. But while Stoltenberg says the vast majority of NATO members now have plans to achieve that goal, the Liberal government has refused to make a public commitment to the goal, let alone set a timetable for achieving it.
In fact, a report released by Stoltenberg on Monday predicted that Canada’s defense spending would fall as a percentage of GDP to 1.27 percent this year. That compares with 1.32 percent last year and 1.42 percent in 2020. Asked about Canada’s defense spending, Stoltenberg told reporters he understood the desire of taxpayers to spend dollars on health care and education, but that NATO members should invest in defense as the world becomes more dangerous. While the NATO secretary general praised Canada for leading a NATO battle group in Latvia, he nevertheless says the two per cent target is a floor, not a ceiling.
This Canadian Press report was first published on June 29, 2022. With archives from Lee Berthiaume in Ottawa
Getting in touch
Do you have questions about the attack in Ukraine? Email [email protected]
Include your name, location, and contact information if you would like to speak to a reporter with CTV News. Your comments can be used in a CTVNews.ca story.
