Trudeau Military - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defense Minister Anita Anand pose with troops deployed as part of Operation Reassurance during a visit to Adaji Military Base in Adaji, Latvia on March 8, 2022. Photo: The Canadian Press/Adrian Wilde
Justin Trudeau joined NATO allies on Tuesday in staging a dramatic condemnation of Russia's war with Ukraine from the arena of heavily armed war games and a lighted press conference from one of the alliance's bases in Eastern Europe.
Trudeau Military
The prime minister assured leaders of the Baltic states during a tumultuous trip to Latvia that Canada will stand with them in the fight against Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and cyber attacks on their countries.
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Trudeau and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear that NATO's purpose is defense, but NATO's basic understanding — that an attack on one member is an attack on all — is critical.
"We are here to defend allied territory, Latvia and all other NATO countries," Stoltenberg told a joint press conference at the Adaji military base northeast of Riga, Latvia.
The Norwegian politician's voice boomed over the loudspeakers at a joint press conference with Trudeau and Defense Minister Anita Anand and the prime ministers of Spain and Latvia, Pedro Sánchez and Krisjanis Kariss. The event was held outdoors in sub-freezing temperatures, and a steady snowfall showered politicians standing on stage, along with a dozen tanks, heavy armor and other impressive military vehicles lined up at the front.
Honored to meet our NATO forces in Latvia with Prime Minister @krisjaniskarins, Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau, Defense Minister @AnitaAnandMP and Spanish Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon. President Putin underestimates #NATO. We have never been more united. pic.twitter.com/INBiOfF7Us — Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 8, 2022
Canadian Forces Base North Bay, Canada. 6th July, 2022. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Meets With Members Of The Military And Their Families While Attending A Barbeque At Canadian Forces Base North Bay,
"The purpose of this deterrence is not to start war, but to prevent war. It is to preserve peace."
"They've been shown how wrong," Trudeau said. "Ukrainians are strong and brave and will stand up for their land. And NATO has never been more united and determined than it is now. I know I can speak for all NATO members when I say that we are all committed to Article 5.
Sanchez, echoing Anand's earlier remarks, took a page from Canada's feminist foreign policy playbook and paid tribute to International Women's Day.
"March 8 should be a celebration for women and girls in Ukraine," Sanchez said, adding that "Putin's brutal aggression forces them to flee the country or fight for their lives."
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Sánchez said he "wanted to pay tribute to all of them today", promising that NATO would stand by them.
Earlier, the group had driven over bumpy roads obscured by towering conifers to a NATO training ground called French Hill to explore a massive battlefield, home to a dozen heavy tanks and artillery pieces at a base that was once a Cold War outpost. Former Soviet Union.
Canada leads a NATO battle group in Latvia, part of a long-term effort to deter Russia — taking on new meaning in light of Russia's aggression.
It is one of four such actions in the Baltic states and Poland, aimed at demonstrating the strength of the NATO alliance in the region against Russia.
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Moving through foot-deep mud, the entourage of politicians and military personnel met soldiers from 10 NATO countries stationed here.
Trudeau interrogated the Latvian commander from a hilltop bunker over a vast rugged plain.
Trudeau said Canada's mission in Latvia would not be extended until 2023, but given Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Canada is announcing a multi-year extension immediately.
Trudeau arrived in Latvia early Tuesday before meeting Karis. This was followed by an extended teleconference with the leaders of Baltic NATO members Estonia and Lithuania on the 13th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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"Frankly, you are not only with the military threat, not only with the history of aggression ... the leaders of the Baltic countries.
Putin is deeply offended by NATO's formation on his country's borders. He opposed the expansion of NATO to countries that were once in the Soviet zone.
Ukraine is not a NATO member, but seeks membership in the 30-nation Atlantic Alliance and closer ties with the European Union. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 after toppling a Kremlin-backed regime in Kiev.
It marked the most significant breach of Europe's borders since World War II — a milestone overshadowed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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Trudeau said ongoing shows of unity among NATO allies and other democracies supporting Ukraine were a key factor in ending the crisis.
Kariņš told Trudeau that Russia's aggression had not succeeded in "driving a wedge between Europe and North America, driving a wedge between NATO partners." Instead, he said, "exactly the opposite" happened and there was a "union of minds".
Trudeau told the Baltic leaders that Canada has the third-largest population of Ukrainians in the world, after Ukraine and Russia, "so we are deeply concerned and involved in this conflict in Ukraine."
"Contrary to what Putin thinks or misthinks, we will show that democracies can and will defend not only themselves and their region, but the principles, principles and values that ensure our success," Trudeau said.
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Trudeau flew to Germany Tuesday evening for Wednesday's meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He will be joined in Berlin by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Ottawa, Nov. 28 () - Canada launched its long-awaited strategy for the Indo-Pacific region on Sunday, outlining C$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) in spending to boost military and cyber security in the region and vowing to address it "with disruption." China, working with them on climate change and trade.
The plan, outlined in a 26-page document, says Canada would tighten foreign investment laws to protect intellectual property and prevent Chinese state-owned companies from hijacking critical mineral supplies.
Canada seeks to deepen its ties with the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region of 40 countries with about CAD 50 trillion in economic activity. But the focus is on China, which has been mentioned more than 50 times at a time when bilateral relations have been frosty.
The four ministers discussed the new plan in detail at a press conference in Vancouver, saying the strategy is critical to Canada's national security and climate and its economic goals.
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"We engage in diplomacy because we believe that diplomacy is strength, while at the same time we are assertive, and that is why we now have a clear plan to work with China," Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said.
In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokesman said Canada's new strategy is "full of ideological biases, exaggerations and speculations about China's threat and baseless accusations and attacks against China."
"China is very unhappy about this, strongly opposes it, and has already made strict statements towards Canada," added spokesman Zhao Lijian.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government wants to diversify trade and economic ties that rely heavily on the United States. Official figures for September show that two-way trade with China is less than 7% of the total, compared to 68% with the United States.
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Canada's ties with its Asian allies also come at a time when Washington has shown signs of growing distaste for free trade in recent years.
The document highlights Canada's dilemma in fostering closer ties with China, which could offer significant opportunities for Canadian exporters, as Beijing seeks to shape the international order more "into an environment more tolerant of our own interests and values," he said.
However, the document said it was necessary to work with the world's second-largest economy to address some "global existential pressures", including climate change, global health and nuclear proliferation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with members of the Canadian Forces following Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the Adaji military base in Latvia on March 8, 2022. /ints kalnins/file photo
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"China is an increasingly disruptive global power," it said. "Our approach ... is shaped by a realistic and sober assessment of China today. In areas of deep disagreement, we challenge China.
Tensions with China rose in late 2018 after Canadian police arrested a Huawei Technologies executive and Beijing arrested two Canadians on espionage charges. All three were fired last year, but relations have soured.
This month, Canada ordered three Chinese companies to withdraw their investments in Canadian critical minerals, citing national security.
The document, in a section referring to China, said Ottawa will "review and update rules that allow us to take stronger action when investments by state-owned enterprises and other foreign entities threaten our national security, including our critical mineral supply chains."
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In a statement, Perrin Beattie, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said: "The region is large and diverse, one size certainly does not fit all."
Canada will increase its capacity, the document said