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US, Canada vow 'long-term' military aid to Ukraine

Sunday, 20 November 2022 8:41 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 20 November 2022 11:35 AM ]

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand, right, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hold a bilateral meeting at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax on Saturday, Nov.19, 2022. (Photo by AP)

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has met with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand in Halifax, Canada and vowed to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, according to a readout provided by Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder.

The meeting that took place took place on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum where the duo "reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, pledging to continue providing assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s security and sovereignty over the long term."

Austin said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war of choice” in Ukraine is a threat to the rules-based international order that was established following the Second World War.

While Anand announced an additional 34 million dollars military aid for Ukraine, denounced "Russia’s invasion" of Ukraine, saying the people of Ukraine has the government’s support.

She further highlighted the recent announcements that Canada has allocated an additional 500 million dollars in military aid for Ukraine, bringing its total commitment to over 1 billion dollars since February 2022.

Other agendas discussed between Austin and Anand included the release of the Department of Defense’s 2022 National Defense Strategy, Canada’s forthcoming Indo-Pacific Strategy, the close collaboration in support of Haiti, and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization.

Both the US and Canada share an important and valued bilateral relationship, including a close defense partnership.

Russia has been carrying out a special military operation since February 24, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, to de-Nazify and demilitarize Ukraine.

It has repeatedly warned that NATO countries are "playing with fire" by supplying arms to Kyiv, and those foreign arms convoys would be a "legitimate target" for its military just across the border.

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