By Caribbean News Global 
OTTAWA, Canada – Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs, and Anita Anand, minister of national defence, on Sunday concluded a successful trip to Europe, where they attended the 58th Munich Security Conference to discuss the world’s most pressing security challenges, reports Global Affairs Canada.
Minister Joly, said: “Canada’s position on the Ukraine and Russia crisis has not wavered: we stand united with our allies and partners and are committed to the transatlantic bond. I have been engaging my counterparts over the last several weeks as we work together to find a diplomatic solution to this crisis. But let me be clear: we will take coordinated action against those who threaten the rules-based international order and are firm that there will be severe consequences if any Russian military action is taken against Ukraine.”
Minister Anita Anand, said: “We cannot take peace, security and stability for granted. At a time when the rules-based international order is being challenged, it is more important than ever that Canada work with its allies and partners to uphold the system that has kept us safe for over 7 decades. At the Munich Security Conference, I had productive conversations with my international counterparts, and we will remain in close contact as our countries work together to ensure Euro-Atlantic and global security.”
The ministers continued ongoing discussions with their counterparts on the situation in and around Ukraine, including Russia’s aggressive and dangerous actions that threaten the security and stability of Ukraine and undermine the rules-based international order. In particular, Minister Joly met with NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, where she reinforced Canada’s unwavering support to the Alliance and the transatlantic bond. She also met with G7 foreign ministers, to discuss Ukrainian and European security, and with her counterparts from Armenia, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Qatar, Romania and the United Kingdom.
Minister Anand met with Ukraine’s minister of defence, Oleksii Reznikov, and discussed the comprehensive aid that Canada is providing to Ukraine to help the country defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. This includes lethal military aid donated by Canada to Ukraine, which arrived in Ukraine on February 19. She also met with her counterparts from Georgia, Germany, Finland, Portugal, Singapore and Sweden.
The principles that underlie Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence cannot be compromised. Canada, its allies and partners have made it clear that there will be grave consequences, including severe sanctions, if Russia takes any military action against Ukraine.
While at the conference, minister Joly participated in a panel with Bill Gates, Ann Linde, minister for foreign affairs of Sweden, and Comfort Ero, president and chief executive officer of the International Crisis Group, where they discussed next steps in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and being better prepared for similar future challenges. Minister Joly highlighted Canada’s commitment to working with multilateral institutions to ensure an inclusive recovery, and identified disinformation as a real and present danger that impedes understanding of the virus and the vaccine.
Minister Anand, for her part, participated in a working dinner co-hosted by NATO and the International Military Council on Climate and Security. At the dinner, Minister Anand highlighted Canada’s commitment to climate action and discussed Canada’s intent to establish and host a NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security. She also raised strategic challenges facing the security sector as it works to adapt to the effects of climate change. Minister Anand also participated in a working breakfast hosted by the Cohen Group, where, alongside Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and former U.S. secretary of defense James Mattis, she reiterated Canada’s strong commitment to the NATO Alliance and rules-based international order in the face of current threats.
Canada remains committed to supporting its allies and partners, safeguarding global stability and developing collaborative solutions to security challenges. In these challenging times, multilateral forums such as the Munich Security Conference provide a global platform for discussions on current and future security challenges as well as opportunities to deepen diplomatic ties and promote transatlantic cooperation in support of the rules-based international order.
