The Canadian Joint Operations Force has had a very busy year in 2023, evacuating Canadians from two countries and deploying troops to areas devastated by wildfires, floods and disasters.
Lt. Gen. Bob Auchterlony, commander of the CJOC, said there is increasing pressure on the Armed Forces to respond to crises in Canada and around the world.
In 2023, the military helped extinguish wildfires across the country for more than four months.
Trade-offs will be needed as Canada sends more troops overseas and climate change continues to cause extreme weather events at home, Auchtelrony said in a year-end interview.
At the same time, he said he thinks Canadians are “overly confident” about their safety in a rapidly changing world.
He says competition among major world powers such as the United States, China and Russia is intensifying, making it difficult for China to become a middle power.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2023.
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