Canada restores its traditional UN peacekeeping role

August 27, 2016 00:49

The Canadian government said today it will restore the country's traditional UN peacekeeping role by providing up to 600 soldiers for missions around the world.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said that Canada is committed to re-engaging in many multilateral peace operations.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to return Canada to peacekeeping after more than a decade of dwindling participation. Canada had participated in more direct combat operations, such as the war in Afghanistan.

The additional soldiers represent an increase over the 19 Canadian troops deployed on peacekeeping missions at the end of July, bringing the total more in line with the number of Canadian peacekeepers deployed in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Canadian government did not say where the troops will be deployed. Sajjan recently returned from Africa.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric welcomed the contribution and renewed re-engagement. The commitment comes ahead of a UN peacekeeping conference in London September 7-8.

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