Houthi Escalation in the Red Sea

"We are now with grave concern seeing an escalation in the Red Sea with attacks on two commercial ships earlier this week by Ansar Allah, resulting in civilian loss of life and casualties as well as the potential for environmental damage."

United Nations special envoy Hans Grundberg

 

"We remain deeply concerned for the welfare of the crew members in the custody of the Houthis, as well as for those currently unaccounted for."

"Their safety and swift release must be a priority for all involved."

Ellie Shafik, head of intelligence, UK-based maritime risk management company Vanguard Tech 

 

"[The US state department condemns the attacks on the Magic Seas and Eternity C, which] demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security."

"The United States has been clear: we will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks, which must be condemned by all members of the international community."

U.S. State Department

 

"After several months of calm, the resumption of deplorable attacks in the Red Sea constitutes a renewed violation of international law and freedom of navigation." 

"Innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and the pollution they cause."

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general, International Maritime Organization (IMO)  

A crew member being rescued on Wednesday age 48 hours afloat. Photograph: Diaplous/Reuters

 

The Yemeni Houthi terrorist group is back at it again, attacking civil shipping in the Red Sea. Two ships were attacked, some of their crews dying in the attack, others taken prisoner, others still rescued from the water after having spent two days clinging to life-support systems. Liberian-flagged Eternity C cargo ship sank on Wednesday with only six of its 25 crew aboard rescued, according to a European naval force in the Mideast.

 

Three of the crew on the Eternity C were killed, the most serious assault by the Houthis in the maritime trade route to date. A route that once had $1 trillion in cargo pass through every year. Houthis targeted over 100 ships with missiles and drones from November of 2023 to December of 2024 in their campaign of support to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

 

During a brief ceasefire in the war, the Houthi terrorists, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, halted their attacks. They were earlier targeted by an intense campaign of weeks of airstrikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump. The sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas in another earlier attack on Sunday, and then the attack on the Eternity C, raises new concerns relating to the ongoing safety of the Red Sea as a shipping route.  

 

Ships had gradually been returning to the Red Sea following the U.S. airstrikes. Today, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against the Yemeni port of Hudaydah in reprisal against the drones and missiles sent by the Houthi forces into Israel. "Due to the terrorist Houthi regime's use of seaports for its terrorist activities, we urge all those present at these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your own safety until further notice," IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote on X.

 

Plumes of smoke rise from what is said to be Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier, the MV Magic Seas. This screen grab is taken from a handout video released on July 8, 2025.

Houthi Media Center/Reuters

 

 According to the European Union naval mission in the Red Sea, the ship's crew was comprised of 22 sailors, among them 21 Filipinos and one Russian, along with a three-member security team. During the hours-long attack on the ship, three people were killed. The ship had been attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. Two drones and two drone boats carrying bombs to strike the vessel were later used, sinking the Eternity C, on Wednesday.

 

Like the Magic Seas struck several days earlier, the Eternity C had likely been targeted over its owners conducting business with Israel. Neither vessel had requested an escort from the EU force. While the EU force was still searching for those on board with private industry rescuers, a Houthi military spokesman claimed the attack in a pre-recorded message Wednesday night.  

 

The Eternity C sinking after the attack Photograph: Houthi handout/EPA

 

Apprehended Insurrection

"They took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival, and navigation exercises. They also conducted a scouting operation."

"A variety of firearms, some prohibited, as well as high-capacity magazines and tactical equipment were allegedly used in these activities."

Royal Canadian Mounted Police statement

 

"The main point of the ideology was that they're anti-government, anti-authority."

"Quite often that will be mixed with racism, misogyny, and then personal grievances. And there's nihilism that we're seeing now ... violence becomes the ideology so some people mix that up and then create whatever ideology they want."

"It's a major issue. It's really a society problem, not just a police issue."

"The recruiting is done quite often online. So, then, who's online the most is our young teenagers and children, so it's something that is worrisome."

"Also and then we saw with these guys, they also did a lot of recruiting with their Instagram account."

RCMP Staff Sgt. Camille Habel 

Military-style training in which the accused took part.   RCMP

 

Four people are facing terrorism charges in Quebec for their alleged actions plotting an anti-government militia; among them are active members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Three of the four stand accused of taking "concrete actions to facilitate terrorist activity", including a plot "to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area". The land in question was ostensibly required as property that could be utilized as a base where they could plan to build and train their group.

 

The RCMP investigation was launched in March of 2023, although the group had been active back to 2021. Three arrested young men face a charge of knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity. If convicted they stand a chance of being awarded a charge of knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity, with a minimum sentence of 14 years in prison. Charges are inclusive of possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives and possession of controlled items. Heavily armed members of police emergency response teams arrested the men on Tuesday.

 

Searches throughout the course of a year for what the RCMP considers a case of ideologically motivated violent extremism, included searches in the Quebec City area where 15 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, about 11,000 rounds of ammunition, close to 130 magazines, four pairs of night vision goggles, and military equipment were seized, according to the RCMP. The military equipment, though not expressly stated, would have been purloined over time from Canadian Armed Forces stock. Presumably the missing equipment would have sparked an investigation, leading to suspicion of Armed Forces members. 

Numerous firearms were seized by police officers during searches in January 2024.   RCMP

 

Military-style rifles were also among the weapons seized by the RCMP. Photographs used as evidence by the RCMP show a small group of people dressed in military camouflage armed with rifles in a training exercise staged in a rock quarry. An Instagram account was created and administered by one of the accused with the purpose of recruiting new members to their militia. The Instagram account is being dismantled: "It was used for the members to promote training sessions and exercises and they were having these exercises in different regions in Quebec and Ontario. And we know also that the online group was really aimed at recruiting individuals that already had an interest in or knowledge of firearms", explained St. Habel.

 

Additional charges against the group accused include the possession of prohibited devices, transfer of firearms and ammunition, careless storage of firearms, possession of explosives and possession of controlled items.The Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), formed to fight domestic extremism and terrorism led the investigation. Canada's natural security and intelligence community has its focus on xenophobic violence, gender-driven violence, and other grievance-driven and ideologically motivated violence. 

"Given the kinds of materials seized, including explosives, it would appear to have been a very serious plot that was pre-empted. The authorities will try to determine whether the individuals charged had connections with others in Canada, had any cross-border connections with far-right groups in the U.S., and the nature of their social media interactions, including sources of inspiration."

"The plot sounds to me like it might have been inspired by the activities of U.S. militia groups. Frightening to see such a thing manifest itself in Canada. It shows that the military has a lot to do to root out potential extremists in their midst."

Wesley Wark, intelligence specialist/national security issues, senior fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation 

One of the accused allegedly created and administered an Instagram account with the aim of recruiting new members to the anti-government militia.  RCMP

 

"The fact that we could charge [them] with facilitating a terrorist activity, it means that people were actually preparing, were taking actions that led us to believe they wanted to actually achieve something and wanted to commit this violent terrorist act. Of course, it was very serious and dangerous."

"We don’t know exactly what could have been done, but when someone is at the point of wanting to seize property, then the plan is really ongoing and we needed to make the arrest and ensure public safety and make sure the plan was stopped and everyone was secure."

Staff Sgt. Camille Habel of the RCMP national security team in Quebec 

Flash Flood Alley, Central Texas

"You have this intense rainfall on a landscape that you could characterize as being a thin layer of bone-dry soil."

"The ground was like concrete, but even beneath that thin layer of soil, it’s on top of that soil, rests on top of limestone and granite and that contributed to very rapid runoff into the river system that further accentuated the flooding and helping that big wall of water begin to get created." 

Michael Morgan, professor of atmospheric sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

"What really turned this into even more of a nightmarish scenario was this happened at night, overnight, into a holiday weekend."

"So in a relatively rural area, sometimes it’s hard to get cellphone reception or it’s to get the word out for these things, flash floods coming down the river. It’s the sort of thing that keep meteorologists up at night and unfortunately, this nightmare was a reality."

"So then you basically had all of these really incredibly wet conditions in the atmosphere and then basically getting wrung out like a sponge over an individual area, and it just wasn’t moving a lot."

Tom Di Liberto, meteorologist with Climate Central

 

"The original forecast that we received on Wednesday from the National Weather Service predicted three to six inches of rain in the Concho Valley and four to eight inches of rain in the Hill Country."

"The amount of rain that fell in this specific location was never in any of those forecasts nonetheless."

Texas Division emergency management chief W. Nim Kidd 

 

"[The National Weather Service did warn of heavy rain and potential for flash flooding]."

"The problem with that is that, to most people in the area, flash flooding would mean one thing, not what it turned out to be, because they deal with flash floods all the time."

"There’s the potential for flash flooding, but there’s no expectation of a water wall of almost 30 feet high."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott  

A search and rescue volunteer holds a pink backpack and a "Camp Mystic" T-shirt in Comfort, Texas, on July 6, 2025. "I hope I find the person to return their belongings, not to find closure," he said. Photo by Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post via Getty Images

 

 The death toll of the disastrous Central Texas floods along the Guadalupe River is now in excess of 100 souls. Many more people remain missing as the search continues five days after the mammoth flash flood occurred that ranks as the deadliest freshwater floods experienced in decades. Young campers and their counsellors remain missing from the century-old Camp Mystic located on the banks of the river. There were 750 campers fast asleep in their bunk beds early morning of July 4. The night before they looked forward to the coming day, a celebration and fireworks, and special treats.

 

That anticipation was interrupted in the early morning hours leading up to July 4 celebrations when flash lightning, rumbling, cracking thunder and rain woke the sleepers. Those on high ground did not experience what the younger children, camped on lower ground did; the sound of the storm along with their cabin windows being smashed, the counsellors attempting to extract their young campers from the cabins to take them to higher ground, to evacuate Twins and Bubble Inn cabins as water from the south fork of the Guadalupe River surged and thrust to impossible heights. 

 

In days to follow, search teams frantically looked for missing children. Texas Governor Abbott, visiting Camp Mystic on Sunday spoke of what he saw as "nothing short of horrific -- to see what these young children went through". The National Weather Service had issued its first flood watch at 1:18 p.m. Thursday for areas along the river in Kerr County, packed with campers at some 18 summer camps, as well as thousands of people in tents and cabins. 1 to 2 inches (3 to 6 centimetres) of widespread rainfall was likely with "the potential for a lower probability but much hither impact flood event overnight", warned the Weather Service.

 

However, according to meteorologists, extraordinary conditions could not be factored into the caution. Plumes of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico were sent by atmospheric conditions deep into Texas -- into an area so prone to flooding, it has been named "Flash Flood Alley". The system stalled and then dumped catastrophic levels of rain into the area in a period of hours. Localities were given sufficient time to warn residents, the Weather Service maintained, but many locals reported never having seen the alerts.  

 

People climb over debris on a bridge atop the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Ingram, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

 

Dalton Rice, city manager for Kerrville had gone out for a jog along the river around 3:30 a.m. seeing only light rain. By 5:20 a.m. the river had swollen dramatically, surging from 7 to 29 feet (2.1 8.8 metres) within a few hours. Back in Camp Mystic, girls in pyjamas were guided by their counsellors up a tall hill in the camp area. A helicopter eventually rescued them from a neighbouring camp. 

 

Camp Mystic director Richard Eastland, who had directed the camp since 1974, was helping to evacuate the youngest campers in the Bubble Inn cabin. He was found in a black SUV, along with three girls he tried to save. He died en route to hospital. It is estimated that over 850 people were saved from the floods -- according to local authorities. A little girl survived miraculously, clinging to a mattress as it floated down the river for hours.

 

Helicopters criss-crossed the skies while authorities vowed the search would continue until such time that everyone believed lost had been located. Rain was still on the horizon under cloudy skies with warning of another ominous "wall of water" threatening to return.  

 

Volunteers search for missing people along the banks of the Guadalupe River after recent flooding on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

 

Transgender Unfairness in Sport Competition ... University of Pennsylvania

"The University will not -- on the basis of sex -- exclude female students from participation in, deny female students the benefits of, or subject female students to discrimination  under, any athletic programs." 

"In addition, in providing to female student-athletes intimate facilities such as locker rooms and bathrooms in connection with Penn Athletics, such facilities shall be strictly separated on the basis of sex and comparably provided to each sex."

University of Pennsylvania reversal statement 

 

"We expect to continue to engage with OCR [U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights], to vigorously defending our position." March 2025

"[The University was only following the rules in effect at that time, but is now prepared to] apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect." June 2025

Penn President Larry Jameson 

University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks to her coach after winning the 500 meter freestyle during an NCAA college swimming meet with Harvard on January 22, 2022.

Josh Reynolds/AP

 

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is investigating a school in Denver where a female restroom was converted to an all-gender restroom in an institution where boys have the privilege of exclusive use of a male restroom. Academia was able to practise such 'gender-affirming' absurdities under the previous Biden-led Democratic government, but now that Donald Trump sits in the White House his pledge to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion politics and make use of Title IX (prevention of sex discrimination in education) in supporting women's rights is in effect.

 

Penn university had been advised by the Education Department of a threat levied against it, to withhold $175 million in federal funds until such time as the university complied with the law. Leading the university to change its mind over contesting the OCR ruling and comply with two executive orders from Trump. 1) Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal government which decries "efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex", which deprives women "of their dignity safety and well-being".

 

2) Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports: "it shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth." The civil rights case has thus been settled through the university apologizing to female athletes who were 'disadvantaged' by controversial transgender athlete Lia Thomas whom the university permitted to compete against female swimmers. Furthermore the university committed to restoring individual records and titles to female athletes who lost to Thomas.

 

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas competes in the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in 2022.  Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images file

 

Males will no longer be allowed to compete in female athletic programs, with the university prepared to adopt a 'biology-based' definition of male and female. The University of Pennsylvania celebrated its transgender credentials when it allowed Thomas to compete against female athletes. He originally gained a pathetic ranking of 554th in the 200 men's freestyle in the 2018-19 season competing as a male among other males. When he transitioned to female his utter lack of distinguishing himself as a competitive athlete underwent a gratifying transition when he became one of the top-ranked female swimmers in that event. And no one blinked an eye?

 

At the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association championships Thomas finished fifth in the women's 200 freestyle and eighth in the women's 100 freestyle. Complaints did emerge over the transgender athlete's competing against women, as well as his use of female locker rooms. The transitioned male-to-female athlete is now, however, refused competitive events against biological women, a change in orientation honouring the law so that the university is now assured of having its funding restored. 

 

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas will not be allowed to compete in the Olympics. (Source: AP Photos, DCC Gray News)

 

Court Martials? in Recognition of Insubordinate Dishonourable Conduct

Court Martials? in Recognition of Insubordinate Dishonourable Conduct

"I can share that I am disgusted by the content of some of the posts published on this group."

"Posting such content runs counter to our values and ethics. I have reinforced with the chain of command the importance of our military disciplinary and administrative processes in addressing reported misconducts."

"[The Blue Hackle Mafia Facebook group features] abhorrent racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic comments and images."

"I have ordered that any serving Canadian Army members currently on this social media group immediately cease their participation."

"Further, I have issued direction to the Canadian Army chain of command to reinforce that this type of behaviour is unacceptable, and any member who engages in inappropriate behaviour should expect to face administrative and/or disciplinary consequences." 

Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright

The Canadian Armed Forces has been mired over the last decade in charges of sexual assault, harassment, racism and  homophobia. Now comes more recent news of a group known as the Blue Hackle Mafia comprised of soldiers from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (a reserve unit operating out of the Cartier Square Drill Hall) operating a private Facebook account where photos are posted of themselves in uniform exposing their genitals and expressing antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic and racist comments. 

 

The Canadian Army is investigating a Facebook group operated by soldiers of an Ottawa military unit. Photo by Facebook/Blue Hackle Mafia

 

The Facebook page has been in operation for the past 14 years, and boasts around 200 participants. Some images show male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons or simulating sex acts with one another while in uniform. Some photographs were taken at military installations. Derogatory sexual comments were posted of former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Discussions took place among the men relating to raping grandmothers. This bespeaks a calibre of individuals whose values and morals bring infamy to the Canadian Forces. 

 

But then, why should enlisted men be of superior intelligence, and moral uprightness when their leaders appear to lack these virtues? Take for example, the instances of the very top soldiers in the Canadian military and revelations of their personal code of conduct that were displayed in full shameful measure several years ago. Aside from the humiliation visited upon them by such disclosures in the public arena, none among them appear to have suffered punishment commensurate with their dishonourable acts...  And it appears that the military attracts more numbers than might be imagined of personnel who bring shame to civilized society. 

"Since early February 2021, 13 senior Canadian military officers — current and former — have been sidelined, investigated or forced into retirement from some of the most powerful and prestigious posts in the defence establishment."

"Experts say they can't think of another military anywhere else in the world that has seen so many senior leaders swept up in scandal at the same time."

"Some senior leaders are facing allegations of sexual misconduct and are under military police investigation. Two people have been charged criminally in connection to the claims. Some have launched public campaigns to fight for their jobs back." 

"In other cases, military leaders have been placed on leave over their own handling of sexual misconduct files that triggered public backlash and division in the ranks."

"The investigations often came to light publicly only after journalists started asking questions of the Department of National Defence (DND)."

"DND says military police do not "proactively disclose the existence of ongoing investigations" because it could jeopardize the integrity of those investigations. Investigations are confirmed publicly on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the investigation, privacy rights and the public's right to know, the department said."

CBC News -- October 3, 2023 

Former chief of the defence staff and retired general Jonathan Vance (left), his successor as chief of the defence staff Admiral Art McDonald (middle), and Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson, the military's former commander in charge of military human resources (right). (CBC)

 

Retired general Jonathan Vance — Canada's former top military commander —  conceded as part of the guilty plea that he had a longtime sexual relationship with Maj. Kellie Brennan which continued while he was chief of defence staff. Vance also conceded that he has a child with Brennan.

Vance's successor as chief of the defence staff, Admiral Art McDonald, was terminated from his position in Nov. 2021, after almost nine months on leave with pay in connection with sexual misconduct allegations.

Former lieutenant-general (now retired) Christopher Coates — Canada's former top commander at NORAD — was investigated by military police for several months over an alleged extramarital affair.

It was alleged that Coates had an affair with an American civilian while he was second-in-command at NORAD headquarters in Colorado. The Canadian Armed Forces considers relationships within the chain of the command to be off-limits. 

 

Military personnel in one posting discuss getting together for drinks at an Ottawa bar: "All welcome (except the Jews of course)." Screen shots of some postings were provided by an investigative reporter, David Pugliese, at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper to Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright who confirmed that an investigation into the social media group has been underway since December. The investigation, still ongoing, could not be elaborated upon, according to Lt.-Gen. Wright. Perhaps not astonishingly, some of those depicted in the images are of the unit's officers.

 

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa serve as the official regiment of the city of Ottawa, tasked, as required, to provide ceremonial guards of honour for visiting dignitaries and for national ceremonies and events. The scandals in the Canadian Forces of sexual misconduct and activities bringing shame to the Canadian military gave way to reports and enquiries conducted by Supreme Court justices. The public shame and controversy prompted the military to pledge to work to resolve the issue, particularly after a number of elite military officers faced charges or court proceedings for sexual misconduct or assault. 

 

Despite which in the interim when news reports of sexual abuse in the military died down after the initial scandal-driven investigation and reports, the leadership of the Canadian Forces appeared to feel that sexual misconduct scandals could be laid to rest; the public eye no longer upon them and news media reporting decreased. Legal cases have ended, some senior officers magnanimously found not guilty.  

 

The Canadian Army is investigating a Facebook group operated by soldiers of an Ottawa military unit. Photo by Facebook/Blue Hackle Mafia

 

 

 

 

A Proud Tradition : Defunct

"During the Second World War, Canadians defended the east and the west coasts and fought in a series of long and difficult campaigns around the world—on land, at sea and in the air—to defeat the German, Italian and Japanese forces."  

"More than 1.1 million Canadian men and women served in the armed forces. The home front was largely directed to winning the war."

"In 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This started more than six years of bitter fighting in the Second World War, which finally ended in 1945. More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in uniform, both here at home and around the world. Over 45,000 of our brave men and women in uniform gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded before Germany was defeated in May 1945 and Japan in August of the same year."  

"Canada contributed significantly to the Allied victory. Revelations of the Nazi atrocities and the Holocaust shocked the world. The war also led to the decolonization of empires, the creation of the United Nations, and what became known as the “Cold War” between the United States and the Soviet Union, and their respective allies.Canada was fundamentally transformed by the war. More than a million veterans came home and would help lead Canada into its very prosperous second half of the twentieth century."

Veterans Affairs Canada 

Second World War -- 1939 -1945

 

"There is a risk that DND/CAF [Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces] will not have the right military personnel, in the right numbers, with the right competencies at the right place, and the right time." 

"[In the Canadian air force and army it will take until 2032 for fleets to be] at least70 percent [functional. In the Royal Canadian Navy the 2032 target is] at  least 60 percent. For the navy, while awaiting a] future fleet [of new destroyers, the first vessels are scheduled for completion in] early 2030."

"The degradation in materiel readiness of the aging platforms within the existing fleet will present a significant challenge to maintaining ... operational readiness."

"There are insufficient trainers, equipment, training facilities and other supports to meet training targets effectively."

"In an increasingly dangerous world, where demand for the CAF is increasing, our readiness is decreasing."

Department of National Defence internal report 

Members of the Canadian Army Royal 22nd Regiment from Valcartier, Que. take part in an exercise in Metchosin, B.C.  An internal Department of Defence document says just over half of the Canadian Armed Forces is in a state to respond to a crisis call from NATO allies. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)

At the very time when the current federal government in Canada plans to triple defence spending, given NATO's latest demands of its member nations in operational military readiness as a group facing a hostile new world order, the Canadian military is revealing that the organization is overwhelmed and dysfunctional to the extent that it will not be capable of meeting even current duties for at least another seven years. 

A year ago the Department of National Defence estimated it would have 90 percent of its forces by March 31, 2025, "ready for operations in accordance with established targets". That was then, this is now, when a new internal report estimates the forces will be incapable of meeting the benchmark until the more "realistic and achievable" date of 2032.The delay is partially caused by a sudden influx of new defence spending. The report points out it will take time to manage the "significant improvements" finally on order by Ottawa.

The Defence Department details in its report the burden it is under as a result of shortages in personnel, degraded equipment, and a chronic inability to obtain new kit. Equipment shortages are the most apparent issue with over half of the aircraft, ships and army vehicles effectively out of commission in the military. Annual statistics on what percentage of the Canadian Armed Forces' various vehicle fleets are considered to meet "training, readiness and operational requirements" are maintained. 

The statistics reflect that in the navy, air force and army, the figures are all at historic lows of 45.75 percent. 48.9 percent and 49 percent operational respectively.  For the time being, the navy remains largely dependent on a fleet of aging frigates described as "rapidly becoming combat inefficient." The dismal picture of operationality highlighted for the Canadian Military comes at a time when funding and recruitment -- two of its most chronic shortcomings -- have recently seen some relief.

Leaked internal documents obtained by CBC News paint an alarming picture of Canada's military readiness, including warnings about personnel challenges and 'unserviceable' equipment. CBCNews

Spending for the military was recently promised at two percent of GDP, a previously-stated NATO goal for all of its members, only to be overtaken by the new NATO military spending guidelines at five percent of GDP, which the current Liberal government has agreed to. The Canadian military will receive $62.7 billion, rather than the previous budgeted support of $53.4 billion. 

The Canadian Armed Forces announced earlier this year it was on track to meet its 2025 recruitment goal of 6,490 new members to be enrolled following three consecutive years of losing more members than were being gained by the military. Early results, however, indicate that new recruits have overwhelmed the capacity of the military to handle them. Up to one-tenth of new recruits, it was revealed months earlier, were leaving after waiting up to 200 days for training to commence.

The new departmental report notes as well that the Department of National Defence is stretched by both a demand to "address deteriorating global security", while yet increasingly being deployed for domestic disaster relief. The Canadian Armed Forces saw itself deployed to perform relief for a natural disaster just once, in 2010. By contrast, in 2023, they were called on no fewer than eight times to perform natural disaster-outcome relief. Making it clear that their role to respond to such emergencies rendered it incapable of responding, due to low manpower, to fulfill their international and national military assigned tasks. 

"It means that Canada's falling further down the rank of allies. It means that the gap is growing between our international commitments and our capacity."

"It impacts our credibility at NATO for sure, but it impacts our security interests, too. It's in our security interest to be a credible contributor to NATO." 

"[The presentation] should set off alarm bells."

Kerry Buck, career diplomat, Canada's former ambassador to NATO

 

A Canadian soldier fires his machine gun during NATO Exercise Steele Crescendo, which took place outside of Riga, Latvia, in 2020. (NATO)

Ukraine's Dire War Production Requirements

Funeral of Ukrainian F-15 pilot in Kyiv, July 3, 2025    AP Photo

 

"[Patriot systems are] critically necessary [for Ukraine, but U.S.-made HIMARS precision-guided missiles, also paused, are in less urgent need as other countries produce similar assets]."

"Other countries that have these [Patriot] systems can only transfer them with U.S. approval. The real question now is how far the United States is willing to to go in its reluctance to support Ukraine."

"There are enough missiles out there."

"This is war -- and in war, steady deliveries are always crucial."

Senior (name withheld) Ukrainian official 

 

"We can’t let Putin prevail now. President Trump knows that too and it’s why he’s been advocating for peace."

"Now is the time to show Putin we mean business. And that starts with ensuring Ukraine has the weapons Congress authorized to pressure Putin to the negotiating table."

Rep. Michael McCaul, R- Texas

 

"We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world."

"Part of our job is to give the president a framework that he can use to evaluate how many munitions we have where we’re sending them."

"And that review process is happening right now and is ongoing."

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell  

Getty Images 

 

Russia's larger military is in the process of a concerted movement on parts of the 1,000-kilometre front line in its conflict with Ukraine. It is also intensifying long-range drone and missile attacks, hammering Ukrainian cities. And it is at this critical time that Ukraine has been apprised by indirect means that the weapons it has been waiting for from the U.S., which during the three-1/2 year war have been supplied fulsomely, are now in pause mode. Ukraine's largest military backer since February 24, 2022 now sees the Trump administration disengaging even as there is no foreseeable end to the conflict, despite fruitless peace talks.

 

President Trump held a "frank and constructive" talk with his Russian counterpart Thursday morning, which resolved nothing. President Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, explained that Mr. Trump had emphasized his urging for a swift  end to the fighting. Vladimir Putin's response was to voice Moscow's preparedness in pursuing talks with Kyiv, while emphasizing that Moscow seeks to achieve its goals to remove the "root causes" of the conflict. "Russia will not back down from these goals", repeated Ushakov.

 

Concerns are at their height in Kyiv relating to the military support allies are able and willing to supply and how expeditiously, as Ukraine races to build on its own domestic defence industry. Patriot air defence missiles are the  high-tech U.S. weapons seen to be irreplaceable, required to protect against Russia's ballistic missile attacks, costing a cool $4 million each. It is that vital system included in the delivery pause, leaving many of Ukraine's cities including its capital, increasingly vulnerable.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had to cope with, among other challenges, fraught relations with the American president, leading him to turn increasingly to his European partners for greater assistance for his country's plans in arms manufacturing. Lacking the production levels, military stockpiles or the technology to pick up the slack left by the U.S. pause, European supporters can do just so much, while Zelenskyy recruits their help for ambitious joint investment projects. Even while the situation feeds into NATO's new U.S.-imposed higher member-state commitments to spending on defense.

 

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met up last month on the sidelines of NATO summit in the Netherlands.  (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters)

 

The Ukrainian parliament is preparing to vote this month on draft legislation to aid Ukrainian defence manufacturers scale up and modernize military weaponry production. Included is new facilities to be built at home and abroad, announced by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. A month earlier President Zelenskyy announced that major investments will go to production of drones and artillery shells. "The volume of support this year is the largest since the start of the full-scale war", he commented of foreign countries' commitments.

 

Also included in the pause aside from Patriot missiles, are the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile and shorter range Stinger missiles -- while Ukrainian cities will in all likelihood see more Russian missiles pierce their air defences.  There does not appear to be a shortage of ammunition for Ukrainian troops at present, despite that during the war there were times of such shortages, unlike the situation with Russian troops, amply supplied with ammunition. 

 

The problem facing the Ukrainian military is its lack of soldiers. Its desperate manpower shortage has forced the army to turn to drones in compensation. As such, analysts claim the front is not in danger of a collapse.