Canada will send more troops to Latvia as part of a commitment to upgrade and strengthen its NATO-led combat team, Prime Minister Justin Trinto said on Thursday. The Canadian-led NATO battle group consists of about 2,000 troops, including 700 Canadians, and is one of eight such Eastern European-based units designed to prevent and defend against any Russian invasion. Canada signed an agreement on the sidelines of a major NATO summit on Wednesday to upgrade the battle group to a brigade, which includes adding more troops and equipment to boost its combat capability. But while Defense Secretary Anita Anand said at the time that it was too early to confirm whether Canada would deploy more members of the Armed Forces, Trudeau vowed to do just that during a news conference on Thursday. The Prime Minister did not, however, leave an expected number. Trinto’s participation in the NATO summit included a nine-day trip that included previous stops in Rwanda and Germany for a meeting of the Commonwealth and G7 heads of government and focused heavily on Russia’s war in Ukraine. To that end, the prime minister announced more military equipment for Ukraine on Thursday, saying Canada was in the final stages of talks to supply Ukraine with up to 39 armored combat vehicles to help it face Russia. It also pledged to provide Ukraine with six Canadian-made drones to complement the 50 or so cameras sent earlier this year. Trinto said his government’s decision to send drones and armored vehicles was based on talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his cabinet ministers requesting such military equipment. “These excellent Canadian-made drone cameras were incredibly useful in protecting Ukrainians and repelling Russian invasion,” Trinto said. “The light armored vehicles we will send will also be extremely effective.” The planned equipment market means that Canada is well on its way to spending the $ 500 million provided in the 2022 budget for military assistance to Ukraine. The Prime Minister also confirmed that a new NATO Center for Excellence in Climate Change and Security will be set up in Montreal and that Canada plans to host the North American office for a network of NATO innovation hubs called the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North (ARTEMIS). “Russia’s illegal, unjustified and horrific invasion of Ukraine requires us all to be together,” Trinto said. “It was very, very clear from this meeting here in Madrid that we have all already committed ourselves to be there to support Ukraine because they are not only fighting for their own territory but also for our democracies.” The prime minister also said that Canada would attend the G20 summit in Bali in November, even if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to attend. Trinto said he expects all G7 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, to join even if Russia remains a full member of the G20. He says the discussions on the world economy at the G20 summit are “very important” and that Canada must address Russia’s voice around the table. “It is very important that we be there to deal with the voice and the lies that Russia may be spreading,” Trinto said. “There are still several months before that, and anything can happen.” This Canadian Press report was first published on June 30, 2022
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