Asked what she believes is the primary threat Canada faces moving forward, the country’s top soldier is pointing to missiles developed with new technology coming from Russia.
“The threat to our continent is mostly related to the new missile technologies and the new vehicles of delivery that Russia is developing,” Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in a wide-ranging exclusive interview, when asked what keeps her up at night.
“North Korea, and then we’ve even seen it with Iran, with the cruise missiles, long- and medium-range,” she added. “Our adversaries have developed a lot in that technology over the past few years, so now it’s about protecting the continent against those potential threats.”
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The nature of that threat has, in part, prompted a sweeping change — or as Carignan called it, a “new structure” — in the way the Canadian military plans to orient itself moving forward, from participating in specialized theatres of operation like in Afghanistan, to a focus on defending Canada itself.
“We were very much focused on defending Canada abroad, but with the current development in missile technologies, especially from Russia, now we have to make sure that we are well positioned in the Arctic, especially, and for the defence of Canada’s territory,” Carignan said, pointing specifically to capabilities such as “air defence systems, sensors from underwater, all the way up to space.”
That means prioritizing the Arctic and the ability to intercept missiles from Russia. Carignan also emphasized the importance of deterrence, which she called “a mix” of alliances, procurement and readiness.
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“It is to force our adversaries to calculate a potential cost,” Carignan said. “So, if again looking at the example of Ukraine, right now, it’s extremely costly for Russia, this war.”
“They are still engaged in it, but what caused Russia to attack is Ukraine appeared to be in a very vulnerable state,” she also said. “So once that vulnerability appears, then the intention of attacking can come with it.”
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What kind of cold war lead paint is she huffing? Look, anti missile defence is important, I’m not going to disagree with that, but that’s the MOST important threat? How about an illegal blockade of our shipping traffic? Can we get someone with a credible level of threat assessment in charge, please?
Oh, those super threatening missiles that they’ve used on their bordering neighbor for the past 4 years and haven’t been able to do much?
Yeah…such a threat.
And not disinformation, destabilization, and technological coercion from the fascists to the south?!
So, the big threat is not the US at all then? Huh, strange. Maybe all the 51st state scare was purely theatre to motivate a public to accept austerity and fund massive increases in military spending for building Fortress North America after all. Oh well, at least we can keep the elbows up, just so long as we point them north instead of south, right? Like, we’re not giving up the fervent nationalism are we? I’ve built more of my identity and worldview around that than is probably healthy, but I’d rather not change if I don’t have to.
As some claim that Russia isn’t a larger threat:
Russian cybercriminals managed to hack into a Quebec municipality’s water treatment plant systems and had the ability to wreak havoc on the crucial infrastructure before getting caught, according to Canada’s cyber spy agency.
In its latest annual report released Monday, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said that it detected over 3,200 cyber incidents affecting either federal government organizations or one of ten critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, critical minerals and water.
In one particular case discussed in the report, the signals intelligence agency said it was advised last October that Russian hacktivist group NoName had broken into the Quebec water plant’s network and gained access to many crucial systems.
It’s not (yet?) a missile, but the hostility is obvious.
So not drones which have been the game changer and plague of all recent wars (Armenia-Azerbaijan, Russia-Ukraine, USA-Iran)? Hmm cruise missile abd ballistic missiles are for sure a threat, but not mentioning drones is worrisome. Are these people actually paying attention? Bet it is the same folks who think it is a good idea to buy jets from its neighbours that wants to annex it…
The Russian-Ukraine war has made it very clear that war, as we have known it, has completely changed. Ukraine is fielding equipment and technologies that are cutting edge, affordable, and extremely effective. They are a new military superpower, as far as I’m concerned.
It has also made it very clear that Russia’s military is an impotent piece of shit, especially now that the Ukrainian forces have thoroughly ravaged it. They can’t even defend their own borders and cities any more while they send wounded soldiers back to the front lines armed with crutches and fresh bruises from their CO beating them.
I’m not at all worried about Russian missiles, because they barely have any left and the few they’ve used were ineffective. I’m far more worried about their disinformation campaigns, psyops, election meddling, and mob influence over western politicians. Our government is shockingly vulnerable to foreign interference (almost like that’s by design, har har)
