To the Editor,
NATO has rung the alarm bells when Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg unwittingly declared to its adversaries that ammunition stockpiles are dwindling and the wait time for large-caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months as a result of Ukraine’s current expenditure, which is significantly greater than current production capabilities. As of November 22, $108.8 billion has been sent to Ukraine from 48 countries in the form of military, financial, and humanitarian aid according to the Kiel Institute, an economic research institute and think tank in Kiel, Germany.
The commander of the Canadian Army has raised concerns that it is near the breaking point. In combination with the increased presence in Latvia, personnel and ammunition shortages, and domestic challenges, it has become difficult to conduct large-scale training exercises and they are unable to respond in an operational capacity to any further international affairs.
If the Peoples Republic of China were to send a spy balloon across the Pacific Ocean to conduct surveillance in Alaska and along the Canada/USA border up the east coast, where there are sensitive military installations, do you think they see this weakness as an opportunity to exploit vulnerability?
Maybe now is a good time to re-evaluate our own defense strategy and capabilities and heed the warnings of our senior officers and pay a little more attention to what is going on in our own backyard.
Walter Cassidy,
Hagersville
