OTTAWA — Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, plans to meet with European counterparts on Friday to explore military options for supporting Gulf states amid escalating tensions with Iran.
No Direct Role in U.S.-Israeli Operation
General Carignan has firmly ruled out Canadian participation in Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. “We are not talking about participating in Epic Fury, per se; this is not the mission we are considering,” she stated during discussions on the sidelines of the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence.
Instead, focus centers on potential defense and support for Gulf partners facing threats. “Our Gulf partners may require defence and support, so within that context, this would be the type of military options that we could consider,” Carignan added.
Dynamic Threats Shape Response
The general described the ground situation as “dynamic,” emphasizing that any Canadian involvement must adapt to evolving risks, particularly ballistic missiles and drone strikes. “Any type of military platforms we would send in those conditions would have to be equipped or protected with other types of systems,” she explained. “This is why there’s a range of different options.”
Since Operation Epic Fury began on Saturday, Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted Gulf states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Prime Minister’s Stance on Allies
Prime Minister Mark Carney, while visiting Canberra, Australia, left the door open for future military engagement. “We will defend our allies when it makes sense,” he said, adding, “One can never categorically rule out participation.”
These remarks follow incidents where NATO defense systems intercepted an Iranian missile aimed at Turkey, a NATO member.
Legal Framework and Regional Outreach
Carignan confirmed that the Law of Armed Conflict now governs the situation, allowing targeted states to pursue self-defense measures. “Therefore, any states being attacked can take defensive measures for self-defense,” she noted. “Any operation would have to be within that zone of self-defense.”
Canada actively engages Middle East partners to gather intelligence and has stationed liaison officers in the region. The Chief of the Defence Staff did not exclude deploying additional personnel to bolster capabilities.
