Minister says Canada has limited capacity to boost troops in Europe

Defence Minister Anita Anand emerged from two days of meetings with NATO counterparts on Thursday with fresh assurances of Canada’s commitment to the military alliance, but no new promises of reinforcements to protect eastern allies from Russia.

Anand instead suggested the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to deploy additional troops and equipment to eastern Europe is limited due to its numerous other commitments both at home and around the world.

“The issue is one of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces being deployed in multiple areas at the same time,” she said. “And what we are doing now is examining ways in which Canada can reinforce its presence in the region from an operational standpoint.”

The minister was also noncommittal when asked about the timeline for a decision, saying she is in discussions with Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other senior defence officials, “and we will be in a position to make firm decisions in the short term.”

Anand was speaking at the end of a news conference in Brussels, where defence ministers from across the 30-country transatlantic alliance were seized over the last two days with Russia’s recent military buildup around Ukraine and the threat of a new war in Europe.

Anand joined Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in rejecting Russian assertions it was pulling back troops from the border with Ukraine.

Anand did not hold back as she laid the blame for the current crisis at the Kremlin’s feet as she promised Canada’s continued solidarity with Ukraine and NATO, including its easternmost members bordering Russia.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this week that Canada would provide a $500-million loan and $7.8 million worth of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine in response to the threat of a Russian invasion. Yet while other NATO members have deployed additional troops to bolster the alliance’s presence in eastern Europe, Canada has not. That is despite requests from some countries, including Latvia, for reinforcements.

Anand noted Thursday that Canada already has 540 soldiers leading a battle group in Latvia whose ranks include troops and military equipment from nine other NATO members, with the main job of protecting against a Russian attack.

“This is our largest international military operation,” she said. “And during today’s meeting, I reiterated our commitment to continue to reinforce the security of the alliance’s eastern flank as a whole.”

Yet while Anand acknowledged that NATO members such as Latvia, whose government has publicly asked for reinforcements, would like to see more Canadian assistance, the minister indicated the issue is one of capacity.

“The world wants more Canada, and would like to see Canadian presence not only on the eastern flank, but in other jurisdictions and countries,” she said. “What we are doing at Defence right now is addressing our capacity to continue to provide in multiple locations.”

Enhancing Canada’s presence in eastern Europe, she added, “is at the very top of my priority list.” However, Anand said she would not be rushed and was “being very methodical and being very careful” before making any decision.