(Ottawa) Defense Minister Anita Anand announced that Ottawa would accelerate the purchase of anti-tank, anti-aircraft and anti-drone weapons for the Canadian military using a mechanism last seen in the war in Afghanistan.
Minister Anand announced the plan in a speech to the defense community Thursday morning, saying the new weapons are now needed for Canadian troops in Latvia and other parts of Europe.
The defense minister also highlighted the need to update Canada’s long-term plan for the military.
The Liberal government released a defense policy in 2017, at a time when the threat posed by terrorist organizations such as the armed group Islamic State was at the forefront.
Mme Anand says a lot has changed in the five years since, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but also rising tensions with China and natural disasters requiring military support to the country.
The minister added that the update will examine whether the military can respond to such threats, but did not say whether cost will be a factor in the equation.