In a significant departure from years of abstention, Canada voted Nov. 19 in favour of a United Nations resolution which supports Palestinians' right to self-determination. The initiative was opposed by the U.S. and Israel as well as three small Pacific island nations dependent on U.S. support. A Global Affairs Canada official says the Canadian vote is a message that it Canada disagrees with the Nov. 18 announcement by Washington that Israeli settlements in the contested West Bank are not “per se” inconsistent with international law.

Amid widespread discussion about NATO’s long-term viability, Prime Minister Trudeau and key ministers are preparing to attend 70th anniversary celebrations in London next month. Robert Baines, president of the NATO Association of Canada, credits the alliance with having maintained decades of relative peace and security. While concerned about its future and the implications for Canada, he says Trudeau could play the “Canadian archetype of the peacemaker and the bridge-builder” between the U.S. and Europe.

Lockheed Martin has received a sole-source $3.3 billion contract for operations, logistics and support of three U.S. Air Force six-satellite constellations. The Canadian Armed Forces and its British and Dutch counterparts also use data from the satellites. LM has been the preferred contractor on the programs since 2009.

While it continues to learn from its experience with the Lockheed Martin F-35, the U.S. Air Force ism’t ready to commit to a next-generation fighter design. LGen David Nahom, USAF deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, points out that ongoing F-35 deliveries and the still relatively young LM F-22 Raptor fleet means “we’re not in a hurry.”