Canada will withdraw its fighter jets from Iraq and Syria following the election of a new prime minister, according to media reports.
Justin Trudeau informed President Obama “hours” after being elected that he would be bringing Canada’s jets in Iraq and Syria home, BBC reported.
A number of CF-18 fighter jets were set to be deployed to the region until March 2016. Trudeau has not yet released a timetable for when the jets will leave the region.
While the jets will no longer participate in the coalition, Agence France-Presse reported that Canadian troops will continue to help train Iraqi soldiers.
When asked about any change in Canada’s involvement in the counter-Islamic State fight, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said Tuesday that commenting would be inappropriate.
“They are a key ally of ours in so many ways, but particularly in defense issues and we look forward to maintaining that relationship going forward, improving it,” he said.
Trudeau also said during his campaign that Canada would not buy any American F-35 joint strike fighters under his watch, according to CBC News. Canada is one of America’s developmental partners in the F-35 program and has already invested $150 million in its design.
Trudeau said the money saved from not purchasing the F-35s would go to increasing spending on the Royal Canadian Navy and to buy a more affordable plane to replace the CF-18.
Canada not buying the planes could have an impact on the U.S. defense industry, as well as drive up the cost per plane.
