Following the NATO Summit yesterday, Defence Minister Rob Nicholson again told Russia to back off in Ukraine.
NATO announced that it will establish six regional command posts (in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria) and expand the current Rapid Response Unit from 13,000 troops to 30,000 troops.
When asked if he thought the Rapid Response Unit would provoke Russia, and cause a larger conflict instead of ending the current situation in the Ukraine, Nicholson shrugged off the question. "Take a look at the way NATO is runs and has always run." Nicholson did stand firm on Canada not arming the Ukrainian Forces, but mentioned that the U.S. is still considering it.
It is true NATO has always encroached onto Russia territory, and pushed to have its defensive forces as close to Russia as possible. Now Georgia (which went to war in 2008 against Russia) is pushing for membership to NATO, and Canada fully supports the inclusion of the former Soviet state.
Russia on the other hand, has not yet backed down to any NATO placement in Europe, and believes the Rapid Response Unit will only cause further conflict.
To read the original Ottawa Citizen article:
Defence Minister Nicholson not worried about Russia
Friday, February 6, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Canada in Iraq - CF-18's Bomb Two ISIS Strategic Facilities
February 5th 2015,
It was revealed today by Defence Minister Rob Nicholson following the NATO meeting, that Canadian CF-18 Hornets had bombed two strategic ISIS facilities in the past few days.
The first strike took place on February 3, 2015 CF-18s in support of Iraqi ground troops bombed an ISIS IED factory and a munitions storage facility.
The second strike took place in the early hours of February 5, 2015 while participating in a Coalition effort to support Iraqi forces on the ground Northwest of Baghdad, CF-18's successfully stuck an ISIS compound that has been used as a staging area for strategic munitions.
It was revealed today by Defence Minister Rob Nicholson following the NATO meeting, that Canadian CF-18 Hornets had bombed two strategic ISIS facilities in the past few days.
The first strike took place on February 3, 2015 CF-18s in support of Iraqi ground troops bombed an ISIS IED factory and a munitions storage facility.
The second strike took place in the early hours of February 5, 2015 while participating in a Coalition effort to support Iraqi forces on the ground Northwest of Baghdad, CF-18's successfully stuck an ISIS compound that has been used as a staging area for strategic munitions.
Both these strikes took out strategic ISIS capabilities.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
New Franco-Canadian Defence Cooperation Council
Defence Minister Nicholson and Minister of Defence Le Drian of France announced on Wednesday that Canada and France signed a technical arrangement establishing a Franco-Canadian Defence Cooperation Council.
This agreement will ensure a continued growth in high-level military and security dialogue between Canadian and French. Strategic and operational dialogue between all levels of both armed forces will increase. Further cooperation and capability development, in order to enhance interoperability between Canada and France. It will also help further develop defence material, research and provide leverage to governmental operations.
To read the original DND Press release:
Franco-Canadian Defence Cooperation Council Signed
This agreement will ensure a continued growth in high-level military and security dialogue between Canadian and French. Strategic and operational dialogue between all levels of both armed forces will increase. Further cooperation and capability development, in order to enhance interoperability between Canada and France. It will also help further develop defence material, research and provide leverage to governmental operations.
To read the original DND Press release:
Franco-Canadian Defence Cooperation Council Signed
CAF Participation in CUTLASS EXPRESS 2015
The Department of National Defence revealed today that Twenty-Six (26) members of the CAF who are deployed on Operation ARTEMIS took part in the US led security exercise CUTLASS EXPRESS 2015, which took place off the African East Coast and in the Indian Ocean.
The exercise was sponsored by the United States African Command and ran from January 28 to February 4 2015. The exercise was designed to increase the capabilities of Eastern African and Indian Ocean nations to counter sea based illicit activities.
To see the Official DND press release, see here:
CUTLASS EXPRESS
The exercise was sponsored by the United States African Command and ran from January 28 to February 4 2015. The exercise was designed to increase the capabilities of Eastern African and Indian Ocean nations to counter sea based illicit activities.
To see the Official DND press release, see here:
CUTLASS EXPRESS
Canada in Iraq - Is the Coalition Beginning to Break?
When the campaign against ISIS began back in September 2014, the West kept saying that success would only happen if countries in the Middle East where part of the Coalition, and played leading rolls. That way it wouldn't be seen as just another Western intrusion into the Middle East. Well it was revealed by the New York Times that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ended its participation in the air war in December 2014.
The UAE is a key US and Canadian ally in the Coalition air campaign against ISIS, and they ended their bombing of ISIS targets in December over fears for their pilots safety following the capture of the Jordanian pilot that was killed this weak by ISIS.
The UAE says they will not rejoin the air war unless the United States increases its Search and Rescue capabilities in Northern Iraq. The UAE has even specifically asked that the US ensure that its V-22 Osprey be available to Northern Iraq. If this is the case, it could need a closer base of operations than its current location in Kuwait.
Another issue for the UAE is the growing role Iraq is being allowed to play in the fight against ISIS. The UAE is uncomfortable with Iraq's increased role. How can it not increase? The fighting is going on in Iraq! This is not like the fighting is taking place in the UAE and the Iraqi military is in the UAE.
This divide is significant because the UAE has been the US's biggest Arab ally in the fight against ISIS, and if the divide grows any more it could cause more problems for the Coalition against ISIS. That could mean Canada might be asked for more of a commitment.
To read the original article from the New York Times, see the link.
UAE Disengaged ISIS in December
The UAE is a key US and Canadian ally in the Coalition air campaign against ISIS, and they ended their bombing of ISIS targets in December over fears for their pilots safety following the capture of the Jordanian pilot that was killed this weak by ISIS.
The UAE says they will not rejoin the air war unless the United States increases its Search and Rescue capabilities in Northern Iraq. The UAE has even specifically asked that the US ensure that its V-22 Osprey be available to Northern Iraq. If this is the case, it could need a closer base of operations than its current location in Kuwait.
Another issue for the UAE is the growing role Iraq is being allowed to play in the fight against ISIS. The UAE is uncomfortable with Iraq's increased role. How can it not increase? The fighting is going on in Iraq! This is not like the fighting is taking place in the UAE and the Iraqi military is in the UAE.
This divide is significant because the UAE has been the US's biggest Arab ally in the fight against ISIS, and if the divide grows any more it could cause more problems for the Coalition against ISIS. That could mean Canada might be asked for more of a commitment.
To read the original article from the New York Times, see the link.
UAE Disengaged ISIS in December
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