In a move that could strain ties with its powerful neighbor to the south, Canada said on Thursday it will not participate in a US plans, widely opposed here, to deploy a missile defense shield covering North America.
Relations had appeared to warm of late after cooling with the US-led invasion of Iraq in early 2003, in which Canada had also declined to participate.
Political analysts expected the decision. Ottawa had been mulling its stand on the US missile defense program for more than a year.
Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin leads a minority government and his party's lawmakers had lobbied him not to take part in the program which is highly unpopular in Canada, particularly in Quebec.
"Let me be clear: we respect the right of the United States to defend itself and its people. Indeed, we will continue to work in partnership with our southern neighbors on the common defense of North America and on continental security," Martin said.
"However, ballistic missile defense is not where we will concentrate our efforts. Instead we will act both alone and with our neighbors on defense priorities such as those outlined in yesterday's budget. These include: strengthening the security of our common border, bolstering security at points of entry, reinforcing our coastal and arctic sovereignty, increasing support for intelligence, expanding our armed forces and increasing our capital investment in helicopters, trucks, aircraft and ships," he said.
In Washington, a state department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "The Canadians have informed us of their decision. We take note of it."
"We certainly hope that despite the decision we'll still be able to continue our broad range of cooperation on bilateral issues, including on defense cooperation," the US official said.
"Canada remains steadfast in its support of NORAD, which is essential to continental security and our national sovereignty," Martin said. "That's why we agreed last summer to enhance our longstanding commitment to track missiles through NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command]. We stand by that commitment. It underscores an important ongoing partnership with the United States and most of all, it is in Canada's strategic national interest."
The US and Canada agreed last August to extend NORAD's aerospace warning function to support missile defense. The agreement allowed NORAD information on incoming missiles to be used by the US missile defense program, but did not require actual participation by Canadian forces, according to US officials.
"Canada recognizes the enormous burden that the United States shoulders when it comes to international peace and security. The substantial increases made ... to our defense budget are a tangible indication that Canada intends to carry its full share of that global responsibility," Martin said.
LANDMARK CASE: ‘Every night we were dragged to US soldiers and sexually abused. Every week we were forced to undergo venereal disease tests,’ a victim said More than 100 South Korean women who were forced to work as prostitutes for US soldiers stationed in the country have filed a landmark lawsuit accusing Washington of abuse, their lawyers said yesterday. Historians and activists say tens of thousands of South Korean women worked for state-sanctioned brothels from the 1950s to 1980s, serving US troops stationed in country to protect the South from North Korea. In 2022, South Korea’s top court ruled that the government had illegally “established, managed and operated” such brothels for the US military, ordering it to pay about 120 plaintiffs compensation. Last week, 117 victims
China on Monday announced its first ever sanctions against an individual Japanese lawmaker, targeting China-born Hei Seki for “spreading fallacies” on issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and disputed islands, prompting a protest from Tokyo. Beijing has an ongoing spat with Tokyo over islands in the East China Sea claimed by both countries, and considers foreign criticism on sensitive political topics to be acts of interference. Seki, a naturalised Japanese citizen, “spread false information, colluded with Japanese anti-China forces, and wantonly attacked and smeared China”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Monday. “For his own selfish interests, (Seki)
Argentine President Javier Milei on Sunday vowed to “accelerate” his libertarian reforms after a crushing defeat in Buenos Aires provincial elections. The 54-year-old economist has slashed public spending, dismissed tens of thousands of public employees and led a major deregulation drive since taking office in December 2023. He acknowledged his party’s “clear defeat” by the center-left Peronist movement in the elections to the legislature of Buenos Aires province, the country’s economic powerhouse. A deflated-sounding Milei admitted to unspecified “mistakes” which he vowed to “correct,” but said he would not be swayed “one millimeter” from his reform agenda. “We will deepen and accelerate it,” he
Japan yesterday heralded the coming-of-age of Japanese Prince Hisahito with an elaborate ceremony at the Imperial Palace, where a succession crisis is brewing. The nephew of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Hisahito received a black silk-and-lacquer crown at the ceremony, which marks the beginning of his royal adult life. “Thank you very much for bestowing the crown today at the coming-of-age ceremony,” Hisahito said. “I will fulfill my duties, being aware of my responsibilities as an adult member of the imperial family.” Although the emperor has a daughter — Princess Aiko — the 23-year-old has been sidelined by the royal family’s male-only
RSS