Montreal, Canada – The United States has been criticized for approving over $20bn in weapons sales to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. What caught attention in Canada was the revelation that over $60m worth of munitions for this sale will be manufactured in Canada, raising concerns about the transparency of the country’s arms export regime.
US-Canada Defence Partnership
A special bilateral trade agreement enables Canadian-made munitions to be sold to the US, the largest market for Canada’s defence exports. Despite joining the Arms Trade Treaty in 2019, Canada does not fully regulate the transfer of weapons to the US, raising questions about compliance with international law.
‘Flawed’ Export Controls
The lack of transparency in Canadian arms exports to the US has led to scrutiny, as Canadian-made munitions are set to reach Israel through a Quebec-based company. The revelation has sparked criticism of Canada’s flawed export system and calls for accountability.
‘Hold Both US, Israel Accountable’
Concerns from Palestinian rights advocates and international voices emphasize the need for Canada to take a stand against weapons contributing to human rights abuses. The call for accountability extends to challenging the US-Israel alliance and ensuring compliance with international law.