Browser not supportedToday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg.
The Prime Minister and the Secretary General reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. While NATO is not a party to the conflict, the leaders discussed how Canada, along with its NATO Allies and partners, will stand with Ukraine in its right to self-defence, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, for as long as it takes.
The leaders exchanged views on the upcoming NATO Leaders’ Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12, including on NATO’s multi-year assistance package for Ukraine. Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the Summit. He expressed Canada’s support for Ukraine to become a NATO member as soon as conditions allow for it. The leaders also discussed progress on Sweden’s NATO accession, for which Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his strong support.
The Secretary General expressed appreciation for Canada’s leadership in defence of NATO’s eastern flank. Since 2017, Canada has been leading as the Framework Nation for the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia, as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
Prime Minister Trudeau thanked Secretary General Stoltenberg for his ongoing leadership and welcomed the extension of his term. The leaders agreed to stay in close and regular contact.