One of America’s allies in the fight against ISIS is dropping out. On Monday Canada elected the left-wing Liberal Party after ten years of Conservative rule. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Designate Justin Trudeau announced that he had spoken to President Barack Obama about his commitment to pull Canada’s fighter jets and ground troops home.
“Canada has a role to play in the fight against ISIL but he understands the commitments I’ve made around ending the combat mission,” Trudeau told reporters of his phone call with Obama.
Canada’s air commitment is small, just six CF-18 fighter jets, but those jets have been involved in thousands of bombing missions.
In addition to the fighter jets Canada has sent special forces troops to help train Kurdish fighters and “paint targets” for incoming air strikes.
Trudeau has said Canada will engage in other ways such providing increased humanitarian assistance. During the election campaign Trudeau pledged to quickly bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees.