The Canadian government will play to its “competitive advantages” in the fight against the
Islamic State, offering military training instead of airstrike support in the Middle-East, Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau said.
While participating in a question-and-answer session at the World Economic Forum in
Davos, Trudeau affirmed his commitment to end Canadian airstrikes against the Islamic
State in Iraq and Syria, “in exchange for another way of military involvement, probably
around training and such things that can help local troops bring the battle directly towards
terrorists.”
Trudeau’s comments came in response to a question about the prime minister’s pledge to
withdraw CF-18 fighter jets from the U.S.-led coalition fight against the Islamic State.
“Countries in the world should look at where their competitive advantages are,” Trudeau
said. He added that Canada remains committed to playing an “important role” in the military
campaign against ISIS, while also helping with humanitarian and refugee efforts.
“We definitely have much to contribute on helping local militia and troops be more effective
in the direct fight,” he said.
Trudeau said Canadian troops have “tremendous expertise” in providing training and
intelligence services to other countries’ soldiers and police, much as they did during the war
in Afghanistan.
“Ultimately, conflicts like this need to have their resolutions on the ground,” he added.
Trudeau’s government has faced criticism, from its allies abroad and the Opposition
Conservatives at home, over the promise withdraw from the coalition airstrikes.
Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan downplayed Canada’s exclusion, saying that such
meetings happen “all the time.”
But Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose suggested it is a demonstration Canada is
paying a price for bowing out of the air campaign.
“When you’re not a full partner, you don’t get invited to the table,” Ambrose told reporters in
Winnipeg. “We were asked to join by the United States and other partners, and now we’ve
said we’re pulling out of that bombing mission.”
Conservative defence critic James Bezan echoed Ambrose’s statement, saying the Tories
“firmly believe” Canada should be involved in the coalition airstrikes, while also beefing up its
military training mission on the ground.
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