Article contentAccording to the Department of National Defence, the RCN warships and RCAF aircraft locate and track vessels of interest, at which point U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement teams then approach and intercept them.Article contentThe area being monitored covers the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Canada also allows U.S. Coast Guard teams to operate from Canadian warships.Article contentSince the outset of Operation Caribbe, the Canadian military claims to have contributed to the disruption or seizure of more than 123 tonnes of cocaine.Article contentWhile Operation Caribbeis a multi-national mission under the overall command of the U.S. Coast Guard, the recent attacks on shipping off the coast of Venezuela have raised concerns at Department of National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.Article content“The Canadian Armed Forces does not participate in any U.S.-led counter-narcotic operations outside of Operation Caribbe,” DND spokesperson Cheryl Forrest confirmed to the Ottawa Citizen.Article contentArticle content“At this time, there are no planned changes to our current Operation Caribbe engagements.”Article contentForrest further clarified that CAF activities under Operation Caribbe “are separate and distinct” from the U.S. military strikes alleged against the Venezuelan drug cartel boats.Article contentHowever, not all Canadian military analysts are comfortable with that policy.Article contentTim Addison, director of naval affairs for the Naval Association of Canada (NAC), told the CBC that he understands the distinction the department is trying to make, but it’s not enough to alleviate his concerns about the U.S. Navy’s recent deadly strikes and where the U.S. could go from here.Article content“Were they illegal?” Addison remarked on CBC. “Should Canada continue to contribute to Operation Caribbe if in fact it seems to be going down the path towards illegal operations?”Article contentThe NAC is a volunteer national group of retired and serving naval personnel who advocate for the RCN. The NAC does not generally publicly comment on such policy issues.Article contentArticle contentHowever, given the sensitivity of this development and the potential negative consequences for Canada, Addison felt it was time to raise the NAC’s concerns.Article content“This involves the law of armed conflict and the rules of waging war between two states,” he said.Article contentFor his part, Trump has hinted that the next move will be for the U.S. military to start engaging the drug cartels inside Venezuelan territory. That would mean war.Article contentIf the Canadian government is too afraid to talk Trump out of this fool’s errand, then we should definitely cut all ties to such an escalation. This would include suspending our long-standing commitment to Operation Caribbe.Article contentIf you cannot get the cart keys away from your drunk neighbour, you sure as hell don’t climb into the car with him.Article content
Scott Taylor: Is Canada complicit in U.S. military crimes?
