ISTANBUL

Amid growing tensions between the US and Canada, the presence of Canadian military personnel embedded within US forces has drawn renewed scrutiny, as units that include Canadian troops could potentially be involved in domestic deployment roles linked to immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.

The Pentagon announced on Jan. 17 that two infantry battalions from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division, known as the “Arctic Angels” for their cold-weather expertise and which include Canadian personnel, had been activated.

Media reports suggest the units could support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies in Minneapolis amid unrest tied to immigration policies.

Hundreds of Canadian troops, including senior officers such as brigadier generals, major generals and admirals, serve within US forces under long-standing military personnel exchange programs.

Canadian personnel are embedded across the US Army, Air Force, Navy, Space Force and the Department of Defense, with lower-ranking officers numbering in the hundreds.

One example is Brigadier General Robert McBride, a Canadian officer serving as deputy commanding general for operations in the 11th Airborne Division.

The issue has prompted debate in Canada, particularly given differences in domestic security and immigration enforcement approaches under the Trump administration.

Canadian personnel serving in US units fall under American command structures while remaining subject to Canadian military law and national interests.

Canada maintains a “caveat” mechanism allowing its troops to decline missions that conflict with national interests, though it remains unclear whether this applies to officers embedded within US units.

Former Canadian Chief of the Defense Staff Wayne Eyre told the National Post that any participation by Canadian officers in US missions requires approval from Ottawa. No comment has yet been issued by serving Canadian military officials.

- Minneapolis deployment status

The Pentagon has placed about 1,500 troops from the 11th Airborne Division on prepare-to-deploy status as a precaution amid protests linked to US immigration policies.

Defense officials have described the move as standard contingency planning and stressed it does not guarantee deployment.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the potential deployment on Sunday in interviews with CNN, calling it “ridiculous,” “completely unconstitutional,” “not fair,” “not just,” and “clearly designed to intimidate.”

- Strained US-Canada trade relations and geopolitical fallout

The military questions arise amid worsening economic relations between Washington and Ottawa.

In 2025, the US imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Canada.

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces a scheduled review in July 2026, with disputes expected over dairy access, digital taxes and procurement rules. Canadian officials have characterized some US actions as overreach.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, warned of the erosion of the rules-based international order traditionally associated with US leadership and urged middle powers to diversify trade and strengthen resilience.

- China-Canada trade deal raises US security concerns

Canada announced a trade agreement with China on Jan. 16 allowing up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the Canadian market in exchange for reduced tariffs on Canadian canola.

Pentagon officials and US analysts have described the move as a national security concern, citing risks to North American manufacturing, potential surveillance issues linked to connected vehicles, and possible exploitation of USMCA provisions amid intensifying US-China competition.

The agreement could complicate the upcoming USMCA review and further strain trust between Washington and Ottawa.