World becoming less stable, general says
Canadian troop commander cites increased volatility in many areas
OTTAWA — The military’s senior general responsible for directing all Canadian Forces missions at home and abroad says the world is becoming increasingly unstable, unpredictable and violent.
In an exclusive interview Friday, only a few months before the last Canadian troops leave Afghanistan, Lt.-Gen. Stuart Beare said the number of men and women in uniform deployed on missions around the world is set to decline.
Canada has about 1,500 soldiers, sailors and air personnel deployed around the world, but that number is expected to fall to about 400 when the military mission in Afghanistan concludes at the end of March.
But Beare says Canadian Forces are deployed in as many parts of the world as before, or even more, including countries in Central America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, which will remain largely unchanged even after Afghanistan.
“The question is ‘Why?’ ” he said. “In simple terms, because the environment within which we’re operating today and could be operating in the future is changing. And if you look at the trends in stability terms, they’re not in the positive. They’re in the negative.”
The Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East; religious conflicts in Mali and the Central African Republic, where French troops have just been deployed; the threat of transnational crime groups in Central America and the Caribbean: Beare cited all of these as examples.
“The level of volatility within that instability is on the rise,” he said. “And then the unpredictability that comes with that is on the rise.
“It’s not something people should be fretting about at home,” Beare added. “But if you’re in the defence and security business and you’ve got people committed to those regions, you need to be paying attention. And you need to be enhancing your understanding.”
He doesn’t say whether that raises the possibility of more missions like Afghanistan or Libya, as any military intervention is ultimately a political decision.
Nor does he directly address what billions of dollars in Defence Department budget cuts mean for the military’s ability to respond should it be called on to do so.
Rather, Beare highlights both the Canadian Forces’ evolution into an experienced military force during a decade of high-profile missions, as well as a focus on partnerships with both traditional and non-traditional allies to understand what is happening in the world.
“Not every problem requires a military solution,” he said. “And not every military intervention internationally requires Canadian forces or will demand Canadian forces. But understanding that is work.
“We’re well-postured and prepared for contingencies that could come tomorrow, including having relationships with mission partners before we need to be there.”
Beare commands the Canadian Joint Operations Command, which is responsible for directing all Canadian military missions both in Canada and abroad. CJOC, as it’s called, was established last year by combining three separate commands — one responsible for missions in Canada, another for operations overseas, and as well as the military’s support arm — under one roof.
Beare has previously said the move could save up to $18 million a year by reducing staff and infrastructure, though he said Friday the move has also increased efficiency by cutting red tape and bureaucracy.