Hollande gives Trudeau a pass on pulling CF18s from anti-ISIL bombing campaign
ARIS - French President Francois Hollande appeared to give his blessing to Canada's proposed withdrawal of its fighter jets from the bombing campaign against Islamic militants after meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday at the Elysee Palace.
The fight against the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant, known variously as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh, has taken on new urgency in France after terrorists claiming to be inspired by the movement killed 130 people earlier this month in Paris in seven co-ordinated attacks.
Hollande has been travelling the world drumming up support for a massive military response, including more air strikes by more countries, at exactly the same time Trudeau's government says it will remove Canada's six CF18s from Iraq and Syria and step up military training instead.
The issue threatened to create some turbulence as Trudeau arrived in Paris for the start of UN-sponsored climate negotiations that formally get underway Monday.
"Canada must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with France," Conservative critic James Bezan said in a release Sunday.
"Prime Minister Trudeau has not yet explained how withdrawing Canada's CF18s from the air combat mission will help our coalition partners defeat ISIS. None of our coalition allies asked us to leave the air combat mission."
It's a valid question, but Hollande very publicly declined to roil those waters.
Standing at a podium beside Trudeau in the ornate Elysee, Hollande said the two had spoken about the security situation, the battle against radicalism and diplomacy.
"But we also have to act militarily, " said Hollande, adding Trudeau had affirmed Canada's solidarity in the global fight and that each country should contribute "within their own means."
Trudeau, in turn, responded that "we will make sure that we all play a role in order to curb this terrorist threat."
He told reporters outside the Elysee that Hollande was "very reassured and happy" that Canada is remaining "deeply committed" to the military coalition.
Hollande gives Trudeau a pass on pulling CF18s from anti-ISIL bombing campaign | National Newswatch
ARIS - French President Francois Hollande appeared to give his blessing to Canada's proposed withdrawal of its fighter jets from the bombing campaign against Islamic militants after meeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday at the Elysee Palace.
The fight against the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant, known variously as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh, has taken on new urgency in France after terrorists claiming to be inspired by the movement killed 130 people earlier this month in Paris in seven co-ordinated attacks.
Hollande has been travelling the world drumming up support for a massive military response, including more air strikes by more countries, at exactly the same time Trudeau's government says it will remove Canada's six CF18s from Iraq and Syria and step up military training instead.
The issue threatened to create some turbulence as Trudeau arrived in Paris for the start of UN-sponsored climate negotiations that formally get underway Monday.
"Canada must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with France," Conservative critic James Bezan said in a release Sunday.
"Prime Minister Trudeau has not yet explained how withdrawing Canada's CF18s from the air combat mission will help our coalition partners defeat ISIS. None of our coalition allies asked us to leave the air combat mission."
It's a valid question, but Hollande very publicly declined to roil those waters.
Standing at a podium beside Trudeau in the ornate Elysee, Hollande said the two had spoken about the security situation, the battle against radicalism and diplomacy.
"But we also have to act militarily, " said Hollande, adding Trudeau had affirmed Canada's solidarity in the global fight and that each country should contribute "within their own means."
Trudeau, in turn, responded that "we will make sure that we all play a role in order to curb this terrorist threat."
He told reporters outside the Elysee that Hollande was "very reassured and happy" that Canada is remaining "deeply committed" to the military coalition.
Hollande gives Trudeau a pass on pulling CF18s from anti-ISIL bombing campaign | National Newswatch
