Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan says Canada isn’t taking part in the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Canada’s top soldier said she is meeting Friday morning with her counterparts from European countries to discuss options for supporting Gulf states caught up in the Iranian war.
What options might emerge from that meeting for Canada will be presented to the government, Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan said.
But Canada is not taking part in the U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.
“This is not a mission that we are considering,” she told reporters on the sidelines of a defence conference in Ottawa Thursday.
“However, our Gulf partners may require defence and support, so within that context, these would be the type of military options that we could consider.”
Opinion: Canada’s rhetorical support for the war on Iran has an audience of one: Donald Trump
Prime Minister Mark Carney has left the door open to the involvement of the Canadian military, but has not indicated specifically what it could do.
“You’ve asked a fundamental hypothetical in a conflict that can spread very broadly. Today’s events, recent events point to that,” Mr. Carney told reporters during a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
“So, one can never categorically rule out participation,” he said.
“We will stand by our allies if it makes sense.”
Tehran has fired hundreds of drones at U.S. targets in neighbouring countries after the U.S. and Israel began a massive campaign of air strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Lawrence Martin: After shackling Canada to Trump’s war in Iran, Carney’s course correction is wise
Gen. Carignan noted that the Iranian retaliation is hitting both military and civilian infrastructure, putting the affected states into a defensive position.
Any Canadian operation would have to be in that “zone of self-defence,” she said.
There are approximately 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel in the Middle East at the moment, though some are being shifted around, and in some cases brought home as the war between the U.S., Israel and Iran intensifies.
Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, who runs the Canadian Joint Operations Command, known as CJOC, said the main focus is ensuring that the soldiers are safe.
He also said six military personnel are being deployed to the region to act as liaison officers in the event that the Armed Forces are asked to help with civilian evacuation.
Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, who runs the Canadian Joint Operations Command, says the main focus is ensuring that Canadian soldiers in the Middle East are safe.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Global Affairs Canada has yet to ask, he said.
Gen. Carignan said the safety of soldiers would also be a consideration if the Forces deploys to the region in support of Gulf states.
She said the closing of airspace to commercial traffic and the threats from ballistic missiles and drones could complicate any deployment as military platforms would need to be protected.
“So, this is why there’s a range of different options. But the risk is balanced,” she said.
Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, said shifting around military assets is possible.
“The bottom line is that we’ve got forces that are flexible and that so in the navy, I can redeploy ships as required, but it comes down to, there’s always a prioritization,” he told reporters.
Lawrence Martin: Can the U.S. finally just shut up about Canada’s defence spending?
“The government might want us to do everything, but we clearly can’t. And so what’s the opportunity cost? What’s the value for us? What’s the return on investment?”
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said the Forces are currently stretched thin.
He cited the army’s involvement in Latvia, the air force’s continuing modernization of aircraft and the navy’s role patrolling in the Indo-Pacific.
“So, to be able to do things beyond that, I think, is a huge ask,” he told reporters.
Mr. Bezan said Parliament should have a chance to debate any potential participation by the Canadian Forces.
He criticized Mr. Carney for being “all over the place” with his response to the launch of air strikes and said there needs to be more transparency about Canada’s position.