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OTTAWA - Canada is cancelling a joint military exercise with Russia because of its actions in Georgia, Defense Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday, after the United States also withdrew from the event.
"In light of the current situation in Georgia, and after consultation with our American allies, we agreed that it would be inappropriate to go ahead with Exercise Vigilant Eagle, a planned combined NORAD-Russia military exercise that was scheduled to begin August 20, 2008," MacKay said in a statement.
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, groups the United States and Canada, and monitors air and space threats in the region.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said earlier that Washington had cancelled two joint exercises with Russia over its military action in Georgia, including the Vigilant Eagle NORAD event which was to begin on August 20.
"We will assess participation in future such exercises as the situation evolves," the Canadian defense minister said.
He said his government was "calling for Russia to fully respect the terms of the cease-fire and respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity." - AFP/vm
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