Ottawa halts weapon sales to Turkey after it invades Syria
The Canadian government has suspended new weapons sales to Turkey as its NATO ally invades northern Syria.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that Ottawa has “temporarily suspended new export permits to Turkey.”
Canada joins fellow NATO members Germany and France in pausing military sales to Ankara, as the Turkish army pushes into Kurdish territory in Syria. Airstrikes have already claimed civilian lives, at least one Kurdish politician has been assassinated, and some captured Islamic State fighters may be freed in the melee.
“This unilateral action risks undermining the stability of an already-fragile region, exacerbating the humanitarian situation and rolling back progress achieved by the Global Coalition Against Daesh, of which Turkey is a member,” a spokesperson for Global Affairs said in a statement.
“We call for the protection of civilians and on all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including unhindered access for humanitarian aid.”
