PM Carney rules out Canada’s military participation in Middle East conflict

Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the United States-Israel strike on Iran, expressing support for the attack and urging civilian protection.

MUMBAI, India – Prime Minister Mark Carney said while he has had discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump about the possibility of strikes in Iran over “recent weeks,” he does not expect Canada to take a military role in any continued escalation, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, Saturday.

Carney made the comments in Mumbai as part of a fireside Q&A, with Indian journalist Shereen Bahn, in front of an audience of around a hundred Indians and Canadians.

“We have not been party to the military build up to this, or the military planning of this. So, it is not envisioned that we would be part of it moving forward,” he said in response to a question about Canadian involvement going forward.

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“It is a serious conflict. In a serious conflict, you have to make choices,” he said.

Carney then went on to detail some of the points made in a statement released earlier, from him and foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand.

Carney said Canada has maintained its “consistent position,” trying to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and stopping the “state-sponsored terrorism that has plagued the Middle East in multiple forms,” as well as supporting the Iranian people.

The Prime Minister also reiterated his call for all parties involved to protect civilian lives “as best as possible in what is a very serious situation.”

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The statement released Saturday morning urged all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place and follow local advice.

Carney also talked about re-affirming Israel’s right to defend itself.

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” the statement read.

Canada asks all non-essential staff to relocate from Tel Aviv

Earlier Saturday, before news of the strikes broke, Anand said the federal government has asked all non-essential staff to relocate from Tel Aviv due to the “heightened security situation.”

At the time, Anand said that advice is not in place for diplomats elsewhere in the Middle East, though that could change.

Hours before the first strikes were reported in the Irani capital of Tehran, Anand shared a post on social media suggested Canadians in the Middle East should “remain vigilant, monitor local and international media, and follow the instructions of local authorities, including any orders to shelter in place.”

“Canadians in Israel, Lebanon and Palestine should consider leaving while commercial options remain available,” Anand wrote, adding that the federal government’s ability to “provide consular services to Canadians during an active conflict is likely to be limited” and that Canadians should come up with contingency plans that don’t rely on government aid.

Canada no longer has a diplomatic presence in the country, making consular assistance for anyone who needs it even more challenging.

The U.S. government reportedly advised any of its diplomatic staff in Israel who want to leave to do so now.

Anand told reporters Saturday she last spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Iran on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier this month but did not elaborate on the conversation.