Canadian troops headed for Russian border

PUTIN WARNS OF RETALIATORY MEASURES AGAINST NATO BUILDUP

Canada will send troops to shore up a NATO force on Russia’s border — on the same day that President Vladimir Putin said he will take retaliatory measures against the military buildup.

The Russian president said his country “won’t show weakness” and added Russians, “will always be able to reliably protect ourselves.”

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Thursday that Canada will lead one of NATO’s four new battle groups being established on the alliance’s eastern flank as part of its stepped-up deterrent against Russia.

The move is designed to show Canadian solidarity with NATO against Russia, which has annexed the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine and backed pro-Russian separatist forces in that country’s eastern region.

But Sajjan added the hope is still to be able to re-establish a dialogue between the 28-country alliance and Russia in an attempt to dial down what is widely seen as the worst conflict between the Kremlin and the West since the end of the Cold War.

Sajjan said there was a lot of “behind the scenes” work to reopen a diplomatic dialogue with Russia.

“This really is the most critical piece. Dialogue is extremely important. We need to make sure the tensions are reduced because it doesn’t help anybody.”

In a statement, he added, “As a responsible partner in the world, Canada stands side by side with its NATO allies working to deter aggression and assure peace and stability in Europe.”

Sajjan said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would outline the specifics of Canada’s contribution to lead one of the four new NATO battalions, comprised of about 1,000 troops each, at a NATO summit next week.

Canada’s battle group is expected to be based in Latvia, with a British group in Estonia, a U.S. battalion in Poland and a German battalion in Lithuania all aimed at helping allay fears among those alliance countries closest to Russia.

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg tweeted his appreciation Thursday: “Thank you, Canada. All four battalions for #NATO’s east now have a lead nation. Thanks also to GER, UK & US. Strong transatlantic commitment.”

The move comes the day after U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the House of Commons and said Canada needed to honour its NATO commitment.

Obama’s chiding of Canada on its commitment to NATO — which stands at about one per cent of GDP compared to the NATO target of two per cent — was one of the few discordant notes in an otherwise celebratory visit to Ottawa.

In an otherwise effusive and upbeat speech, Obama said he wanted to see Canada and its NATO allies contribute more to their common defence, especially in light of Russia’s aggressive posture.

“As your ally and as your friend, let me say that we’ll be more secure when every NATO member, including Canada, contributes its full share to our common security,” Obama said. “The world needs more Canada, NATO needs more Canada. We need you.”

Obama used his speech to Canada’s Parliament to set the table for a strong show of solidarity against Russia at next week’s NATO summit, said the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

“He was sending a strong message, not only to Canada, but to all of our NATO partners that we’re going into Warsaw and we’re looking for everybody to step up and contribute to the level that they’ve committed,” Ambassador Bruce Heyman said Thursday.

But Russia has condemned the buildup, pointing to NATO’s expansion right up to its borders as well as the planned establishment of a U.S. missile defence system on its doorstep.

The buildup was “undermining a military parity that has formed over decades,” Putin said in a foreign policy speech before top Russian diplomats.

Russia has described NATO’s U.S.-led missile shield as a top security threat, rejecting Washington’s claims that the shield is intended to fend off the Iranian missile threat.

Putin noted that the U.S. is developing the system despite last year’s nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. “We said from the start that it was a lie, just a pretext,” Putin said. “And the reality has proven it.”