The day after winning a decisive election victory, Justin Trudeau spoke to President Barack Obama about the fight against ISIS, reiterating his election campaign pledge to withdraw from the combat mission.
“I committed that we would continue to engage in a responsible way… but he understands the commitments I’ve made around ending the combat mission,” Trudeau told reporters last week.
In a statement to Global News, however, the U.S. Department of Defense said while the two leaders discussed joint efforts to combat terrorism, including the threat posed by ISIS, “the leaders did not discuss the specifics of strategy and tactics in any detail whatsoever.”
“We expect Canada will continue to be a valuable contributor to the 65-member global Coalition,” DOD spokeswoman Cmdr. Elissa Smith said, adding more detailed conversations are expected once Trudeau takes office.
Global News asked the Liberals whether Trudeau explicitly told Obama Canada is withdrawing from the combat mission.
Spokesman Cameron Ahmad referred us to the party’s platform.
“Our priority remains forming a government and presenting a cabinet on November 4th,” he said. in an email.
READ MORE: Canadian air strikes continue in Iraq post-election
Closer to home, Canada’s Dept. of National Defence said Trudeau’s only meeting with top soldier General Jonathan Vance took place at a commemorative ceremony a week ago.
The meeting lasted all of 33 seconds.
That will likely all change when Trudeau and his cabinet are officially sworn in next week. In the meantime, there are questions about what withdrawing from the combat mission could mean and what it might involve.
The new Liberal government has options. Trudeau could decide to pull Canada’s six CF-18s and leave Canadian refuelling and reconnaissance planes, or pull all aircraft.
Retired Col. George Petrolekas says Trudeau also has the option of keeping jets overseas until the current mission expires at the end of March.
“The reality is, it was the Government of Canada that made the promise to the allies, not necessarily the Conservative government,” Petrolekas said. “So, I think he could easily stay on until the end of March and keep his electoral promise to Canadians.”
READ MORE: U.S. special forces heading to Syria to co-ordinate fight against ISIS
During the campaign, Trudeau also committed to keeping Canadian special forces on the ground in Iraq, training Kurdish soldiers.
Earlier this week on The West Block, longtime Liberal MP Ralph Goodale didn’t rule out increasing ground troops.
“That is potentially a possibility,” he said.
“Obviously, that’s a decision for the Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence.”
Trudeau and his cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
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