The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence issued the following statement today related to the One-Year Anniversary of the Independent External Comprehensive Review on sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces.
May 30
(BRIAN LEE CROWLEY)
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
May 23
(HUDSON ON THE HILL)
Canada continues to dodge NATO calls for defence spending. There is a long-standing complaint that Canada continues to fall short of the alliance’s stated goal that its members’ defence spending should equal a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product.
May 23
(CP)
The Military Police Complaints Commission is looking into how military police handled the sexual-assault allegation against Major-General Dany Fortin, who was cleared of misconduct and acquitted by a Quebec Court last December. Fortin says he was the victim of a biased investigation and the Commission said today that his statements about senior military officials make it a matter of public interest.
May 31
(Ken Pole)
Defence Minister Anand used a keynote speech today at the opening of CANSEC, the Canadian Association of Defence & Security Industries trade show in Ottawa, to underscore the importance of supply chains as the government modernizes the Canadian Armed Forces. Industry notes procurement is a 2-way collaboration requiring trust.
May 31
(FrontLine News)
Today Seaspan Shipyards announced it has cut steel to build a ‘Prototype Block’ and marking a critical step in its Polar Icebreaker Program. Seaspan is designing and building the first heavy Polar Icebreaker in Canada in more than 60 years. Lessons learned from building the Prototype Block will help improve the quality and efficiency of the process when production of the vessel begins in late 2024.
May 31
(FrontLine News)
Using both indoor and outdoor booths at CANSEC, Rheinmetall is showcasing its latest and most innovative advancements including water treatment, new fabrics, satellite communications. land Vehicle crew training, strategic fires and effects information, night vision system modernization and heavy equipment replacement.
May 31
(DND News)
Defence Minister Anita Anand has announced a commitment by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to ensuring that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples are able to provide input on defence issues.
 Collins Aerospace |
 Beretta Defense Technologies / Stoeger Canada |
 Cleeve Technology Inc. |
30 May 2023 –
Chinese election interference is a hot topic in Canada today. Yet, while it is indeed a matter of enormous importance, it is one that must be placed in the context of the new Cold War against the West.
27 April 2023 –
The CAF is in crisis mode, attempting to deal with a lack of personnel and equipment, efforts to change its culture, operational pressures and reputational challenges. This huge machine cannot rapidly ramp up from dereliction when needed – it's time for Canadians to begin to recognize service to country as important, and give it the priority it deserves.
29 March 2023 –
The federal budget plans a 3% reduction in across-the-board spending and new spending is squarely focusing on domestic economic issues. The defence policy review, announced a year ago, will likely be stalled while to government turns its attention to domestic needs.
22 January 2023 –
Will the issue of heavy armour support for Ukraine unite or divide the allies? Will Germany's post-WW2-guilt overpower its modern leadership role in global stability? Is a willing coalition of European neighbours enough to stiffen the German spine?
31 May 2023
(CBC)
The RCAF plans to integrate two Airbus A-330s purchased from Kuwait into Trenton-based 4356 Transport Squadron this summer as replacements for its aging A-310s flown as CC-150 Polaris. The immediate plan is to maintain the civilian layout for passenger and cargo operations without a private cabin for prime ministerial transport but at least one will be reconfigured within the next two years.
31 May 2023
(AP)
Sudan’s military announced today that it has suspended participation in talks with a paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Force, which it has been battling for control of the country for weeks. A spokesman said the decision is due to the RSF’s “repeated violations” of a cease-fire and its continued occupation of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in Khartoum.
31 May 2023
(Reuters)
The United Arab Emirates confirmed today its withdrawal from a U.S.-led maritime coalition but that it remains committed to dialogue and diplomatic engagement to advance regional security and stability. Headquartered in Bahrain, the multinational coalition was created to counter terrorism and piracy in the Red Sea and Gulf.
31 May 2023
(AP)
International efforts to defuse a crisis in Kosovo intensified today as ethnic Serbs held more protests in a town where clashes with NATO-led peacekeepers earlier this week left dozens injured and sparked fears of renewed conflict. Serbians want Kosovo special police and ethnic Albanian officials withdrawn from northern Kosovo where Serbs are a majority.
30 May 2023
(BBC)
A day after 30 NATO peacekeepers and 52 Serbian protesters were hurt in clashes in Kosovo over the appointment of ethnic Albanian mayors, the alliance said today it is deploying 700 more troops. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized by many European states as well as the U.S., but Russian-backed Serbia refuses to follow suit.
30 May 2023
(CNN)
Ukrainians are familiar with seemingly endless Russian drone attacks as Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” moves into its 16th month but today saw residents of Moscow under drone attack. Neither confirmed nor denied by Ukraine, the early morning attack damaged high-rises and an exclusive residential area.
30 May 2023
(EuroNews)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s weekend re-election has been followed by his government’s demand that Sweden take legal action against a Kurdish separatist group which mounted a May 28 political stunt in Stockholm. Turkey considers the group terrorists and has blocked Sweden’s NATO membership over what it says is Sweden’s inaction to date.
30 May 2023
(Breaking Defense)
Eighteen Leopard 2A6s donated to Ukraine by Germany are to be replaced with new 2A8 models, in a €525-million contract with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. There also is an option for 105 more which would push the total cost to some €2.9 statement. Germany currently has 321 Leopards in service as well as others in storage.
29 May 2023
(BBC)
Two dozen NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo were injured today, three seriously, in attacks by Serb demonstrators angered at having ethic Albanian mayors. The crisis dates to April when Serbs boycotted local elections, allowing Albanians to take control of local councils with a less than 4% voter turnout. Ethnic Albanians account for more than 90% of the Kosovar population but Serbs are the majority in the north.
29 May 2023
(Reuters)
After Russia President Vladimir Putin reiterated a plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, his counterpart there suggested May 28 that any other neighbouring country could expect the same arrangement. “No one is against Kazakhstan and other countries having the same close relations that we have with the Russian Federation,” Lukashenko said on Russian state TV. “It is very simple: join in the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That's all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone.”
