Since 2014, Canada has actively participated alongside our NATO Allies in measures to maintain security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe, including through training, exercises and other operational tasks.
Advertisement
In his return, President Ghani thanked the Canadian Prime Minister for Canada’s support in various sectors to Afghanitan and urged Mr. Trudeau to help Afghanistan in management and human resources skill building.
Canada, whose spending lags below 1%, is one of NATO’s worst offenders, ranking 23rd out of 28 member countries. [Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images] At the summit, after listing the few countries that actually meet the pledge, Obama said that “everybody has got to step up, everybody has got to do better”. America, Britain, and Germany were all quick to sign on to play similar roles in countries along the Russian front, but Canada dragged their heels, only confirming their participation a day after President Obama told the Canadian Parliament that he hoped Canada would do more for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – for the third time.
President Obama stressed the need for all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members to meet their defense spending pledge. “We’re quite good”, Trudeau laughed in reply, before adding: “But I know you are too”. “Canada is going to continue to be a strong supporter of both security and development in Afghanistan”, he said.
The Trudeau government has also drawn a lot of criticism for their willingness to discuss security issues with Russian Federation.
A day before he is to arrive in Kyiv for a two day visit, Trudeau said that although his government was open to discussing the West’s many security differences with Russia, “Canada stands strongly with the people of Ukraine against the illegitimate actions of Russia”.
The government of Canada has pledged a total of $440 million in aid to Afghanistan to support the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and civilian development projects. About $270 million of the money, to be distributed over three years, will provide economic and social assistance to Afghans.
The Canadian money comes at the same time as Obama committing 8,000 USA troops to remain in Afghanistan next year.
“We can’t forget what’s at stake in Afghanistan”, he said.
Advertisement
Trudeau also said he’s confident Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union will be ratified. That agreement, the largest for Canada since NAFTA, has been up in the air since Britons voted to leave the EU.
