Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Canadian Defense Secretary Anita Anand discussed modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command and providing military support to Ukraine’s defenses at a meeting at the Pentagon today.
NORAD is an American-Canadian organization with the Air and Space Warning, Air and Space Control and Maritime Warning Missions for North America.
Aerospace Alert includes the detection, validation and warning of an attack on North America – whether by aircraft, missile or spacecraft – through mutual assistance arrangements with other commands.
Canada and the US, through NORAD, have been tracking the recent Chinese surveillance balloon that has violated both countries’ sovereignty, Austin said.
“This coordination underscores the importance of our alliance and the need for continued investment in modernizing NORAD on both sides,” he said.
“We remain concerned about the PRC [People’s Republic of China] increasingly determined efforts to undermine the rules-based international order that keeps us all safe,” Austin said of China’s actions.
Austin also mentioned that Canada and the US are members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
“I am very grateful for Canada’s leadership in Ukraine, including your recent announcement to donate Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine, and I look forward to building on that work today,” the secretary said.
On January 26, Anand announced that Canada will supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks held by the Canadian Armed Forces.
During the announcement, the minister also said Canada would supply ammunition and spare parts, and would send Canadian forces to a third country to train Ukrainian soldiers on how to use the tanks.
“Canada’s donation is the result of extensive coordination with allies and partners who also plan to donate Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, among other Western MBTs,” Anand said in her announcement.
Austin also thanked Anand for Canada’s support in bringing greater stability and prosperity to Haiti.
“Our neighbors in Canada are more than allies and more than friends. We look at you as family,” he said.
Canada has pledged over $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine and has trained over 35,000 members of Ukraine’s armed forces, Anand said.
And Canada continues to work and cooperate with the US in modernizing NORAD, she said.
“The United States is Canada’s closest ally. And I want to reiterate that we share more than just the border. We share common values, we share a common belief in democracy, freedom and the rule of law. And our partnership continues to grow,” said Anand.