Resolutely Oppose Canada's Participation in NATO's Military Exercise
The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) announced on January 24 that Canada is to participate in NATO's Steadfast Defender 24, the largest NATO military exercise in more than three decades. DND notes that the exercise will serve to "counter threats to the Euro-Atlantic area."
DND informs that about 1,000 Canadian sailors, soldiers, aviators and special forces members will take part to "demonstrate NATO's ability to conduct sustained, multi-domain defensive operations over a period of several months, simulating a [NATO Charter] Article 5 attack by an adversary with similar capabilities."
There are two parts to this live war game aimed at Russia. The first is maritime-based and focused on "defending the North Atlantic and Arctic waters," and the second will test "NATO's ability to rapidly deploy reinforcements across all domains in defence of Central and Eastern Europe."
Besides the troops, Canada will be deploying the patrol frigate HMCS Charlottetown, equipped with a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and the Canada-led "Forward Presence Battle Group" in Latvia, including for the first time a Canadian Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank squadron.
It is noted that as part of "an important milestone for the Canadian
Army's future Forward Land Forces Multinational Brigade Latvia," the
second part of the war game will see the Canadian command team
"integrate with their higher NATO command in the planning and execution
of defensive combat operations." This means further integration into the
U.S.-dominated command structure and war machinery.
In the second segment of the Steadfast Defender 24 war exercise, the Canadian military will specifically be taking part in exercise Crystal Arrow in Latvia in March, as well as exercise Spring Storm in Estonia in May. Additionally, Canadian Special Operation Forces Command members will participate in exercise Nordic Response in Norway in March.
Bill Blair, Canada's Minister of Defence, stated in the DND announcement that "Canada's participation in Exercise Steadfast Defender sends a strong message about our ability to operate with NATO Allies and our continued contribution to the defence of Europe. Canada remains unwavering in its commitments to defend our shared values and interests, and to be a reliable partner in peace and security."
It is a matter of profound concern that Canada is participating more and more under the dictate of U.S. and NATO as a force for aggression and war. Since NATO's founding, the Canadian people have opposed its agenda of aggression and war to realize U.S. geopolitical ambitions against the Soviet Union. NATO has now implicated the Canadian armed forces into committing crimes against the peace and causing widespread insecurity and displacement around the world. Shame on subsequent governments for permitting this as they conciliate with the U.S. wars of aggression at every turn. There will be no peace for the North Atlantic and Europe unless all nations and peoples have peace.
Canadians must demand an end to Canada's participation in NATO wars and war plans such as Steadfast Defender, and organize for the withdrawal of Canada from NATO and the dismantling of NATO. Let us take this up together as part of our political work to establish an anti-war government in Canada and to make Canada a zone for peace.
This article was published in
Volume 54 Number 13 - February 23, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS541312.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca