Canada to buy US missile defense system for Ukraine

Trenton, CANADA

Canada will purchase a missile defense system for Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told US President Joe Biden on Tuesday at a summit in Mexico.

"The Prime Minister informed the President that Canada will purchase a U.S.-manufactured National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) for Ukraine," according to a statement from the prime minister's office that detailed Trudeau's talks with Biden at the North America Leader's Summit in Mexico City.

Trudeau, Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador are commonly referred to as the “Three Amigos” since the trio of countries make up North America.

The news came shortly after Italy declared it wanted to buy a similar system for Ukraine but ran into technical problems.

Details on the purchase are sketchy but the US-manufactured system will aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia's ongoing military action.

Trudeau's announcement came as the two leaders discussed "a wide range of bilateral and global issues," said the statement.

Trudeau and Biden talked about Canada's announcement this week that it would buy 88 F-35 fighter jets from US-based Lockheed Martin to bolster the defense of North America.

The subject of what to do about Haiti was broached, too. The statement said the two leaders agreed to "support Haitian-led solutions." Biden had sought to find backing from other countries for military intervention as Haiti is in chaos with gangs running parts of the country.

And finally, "the leaders denounced the Iranian regime's continued attacks on brave women, students and the people of Iran.”

Tehran has executed demonstrators who are protesting the death of a woman for not wearing her hijab in the prescribed manner and was arrested and died in custody shortly afterward.