A Canadian spokeswoman recently claimed that her country will defend its arctic interests:
The Canadian government on Friday reaffirmed its Arctic claims, saying it will defend its northern territories and waters after Russia earlier announced plans to militarize the North.
"Canada is an Arctic power," Catherine Loubier, a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, said in an email to AFP.
"The government is engaged in protecting the security of Canada and in exercising its sovereignty in the North, including Canadian waters," she said.
There's just one small obstacle in your way, Madame Loubier. How are you going to defend your arctic claims if you don't have a military to speak of? Canada has allowed her military to dwindle down almost to nothing. I have heard it said that the Michigan National Guard could defeat your entire military.
1 comment:
As a former Canadian soldier, I concur with the post. After a brief boost under the Mulroney Tories, The Liberal Chretian government continued the steady cut the forces started by The Trudeau Liberals in the 1990's. The support trades (cooks, mechanics, medical) were almost wiped out. Our task force in Afghanistan relies on civilian contractors for these services.
The troops are well trained but senior leadership often lacks experience since there are too few command positions for the senior officer corps (e.g. Maj.Gen. Daillair's first peacekeeping assignment was commanding the UN forces in Rwanda when things went to hell. He had a mental breakdown because some strangers were killed so we made him a Lt Gen and then Senator. Go figure!)
The equipment is bought in fits and spurts and only when it's well past its useful life.
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