Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand met North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering commitment to the Alliance and the rules-based international order.

February 1, 2022 – Brussels, Belgium – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand met North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and reaffirmed Canada’s unwavering commitment to the Alliance and the rules-based international order.

Minister Anand discussed her two-day trip to Ukraine and emphasized Canada’s support for the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. She and Secretary General Stoltenberg expressed their deep concern about the continuing Russian military buildup in and around Ukraine and underscored the importance of continued coordination and collaboration among NATO Allies in the face of the current security environment. They also agreed on the importance of continuing to provide strong political and practical support to Ukraine, including through Canada’s Operation UNIFIER, which was recently extended and expanded until the end of March 2025, and is helping Ukraine move towards greater NATO interoperability.

During the meeting, Minister Anand and Secretary General Stoltenberg also discussed the priorities for the upcoming Defence Ministers’ Meeting, ways to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and Canada’s ongoing work to establish and host a NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security.

Canada will continue to enhance its relationships with NATO Allies and partners in order to collectively address threats in the rapidly evolving security environment, and to help build a stronger and more resilient Alliance.

Minister Anand’s bilateral meeting in Brussels is part of her first official foreign trip as Minister of National Defence. It comes after a two-day visit to Ukraine where she met with her Ukrainian counterpart and members of the CAF deployed on Operation UNIFIER. The Minister will now travel to Latvia to meet with counterparts and CAF personnel deployed on Operation REASSURANCE where she will continue to work with Allies to support the security and stability of Central and Eastern Europe.

“The NATO Alliance and rules-based international order are core elements of Canada’s defence and foreign policy, and have kept Canadians safe for over seven decades. Russia’s ongoing aggression in Eastern Europe reminds us yet again of the importance of trans-Atlantic solidarity. Canada’s commitment to the NATO Alliance is unwavering, and we will continue to work with our Allies to maintain a modern, agile and united alliance in the face of current and future challenges.”

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

Daniel Minden

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of National Defence

Phone: 613-996-3100

Email: Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations

Department of National Defence

Phone: 613-904-3333

Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca