Canada is in discussions with its allies regarding potential military support for Gulf states facing potential attacks from Iran, Defence Chief Gen. Jennie Carignan revealed Thursday. The discussions come as Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated Canada won’t definitively rule out military participation in the escalating Middle East conflict.
Speaking at a defence and security conference in Ottawa, Carignan stated that a meeting is scheduled for Friday morning to explore options for assisting Gulf states in defending themselves against bombing attacks from Iran. “The Gulf states must likewise indicate what they need,” Carignan said, adding that Canada is awaiting clarification on specific requirements. “We are in communication with them to receive an idea of the needs because it’s clear that if they don’t need us… we won’t look at options to support them.”
Whereas Carignan clarified that Canada is not currently involved in the U.S.-led operation “Epic Fury,” she emphasized that support could be offered if requested by Gulf partners. She did not detail the nature of potential Canadian military assistance.
The possibility of Canadian military involvement has prompted calls from the Conservative party for a parliamentary debate before any deployment of troops. “It should be up to Parliament itself to say yea or nay on whether or not we’re ever going to be deploying our troops into a conflict,” Conservative defence critic James Bezan told reporters. “Let’s have the conversation where it should be, in public so there’s transparency, in the House of Commons.”
Prime Minister Carney, speaking in Australia on Thursday, stated that Canada cannot “categorically” rule out military participation, describing potential involvement as a “fundamental hypothetical.” He affirmed Canada’s commitment to standing by its allies.
Carignan’s comments follow Prime Minister Carney’s initial expression of unequivocal support for U.S. Airstrikes on Iran, a position he later qualified with “regret” due to concerns about consistency with international law. Bezan criticized these shifting statements, questioning Ottawa’s pursuit of a diplomatic solution while simultaneously endorsing airstrikes.
Currently, approximately 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are deployed to the Middle East on six operations, according to Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command. Boivin revealed that some troops have been repositioned or returned to Canada since the outbreak of the conflict. Canadian Joint Operations Command would be responsible for any potential evacuation or assisted departure of Canadian citizens from the region.
Boivin noted that Canada currently has no naval vessels or air force planes stationed in the region for such a mission, but that six liaison officers are being sent to the Middle East to assess potential needs. Global Affairs Canada reported that over 107,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are registered in the Middle East as of March 5, though this number may not reflect the total number of Canadians in the region or those wishing to exit.
Global Affairs Canada stated it is developing “a range of options” for supporting the potential departure of Canadians from several Middle Eastern countries, including exploring charter flights or securing seats on commercial flights, contingent on security conditions and airspace viability.
