Minister Blair Concludes Productive Visit to Europe and Announces Additional Support for Ukraine and Canada’s Contribution to NATO’s Eastern Flank
February 16, 2025 – The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, today announced additional support for Ukraine and Canada’s contribution to NATO’s Eastern Flank, following a productive visit to Europe.
Minister Anand met with her Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, in Kyiv, where she reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. She pledged additional military assistance to Ukraine, including armored vehicles, artillery, and ammunition.
In Brussels, Minister Anand met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and other allied defence ministers. She emphasized Canada’s commitment to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank.
“Canada is deeply committed to supporting Ukraine and ensuring the security of our NATO allies,” said Minister Anand. “We are providing additional military assistance to Ukraine and increasing our presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank to deter Russian aggression.”
As part of Canada’s enhanced contribution to NATO, Minister Anand announced that Canada will:
- Deploy an additional battle group to Latvia, comprising approximately 450 troops.
- Establish a permanent headquarters for the Canadian-led NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group in Latvia.
- Provide additional funding for infrastructure and support to NATO forces on the Eastern Flank.
These measures will significantly increase Canada’s military presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to collective defense.
Minister Anand also met with her counterparts from Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom to discuss shared security challenges and areas of cooperation. She highlighted Canada’s support for the Three Seas Initiative, a regional cooperation platform in Central and Eastern Europe.
“Canada is a strong and reliable ally, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure the security and stability of Europe,” said Minister Anand. “Our enhanced presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank is a clear signal of our commitment to the collective defense of our allies.”
The announcements made by Minister Anand come in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and its continued military buildup near the border with NATO allies. Canada remains committed to deterring Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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