Canada's top general loses election to become head of key NATO Military Committee

Despite a push from the federal government, Canada's chief of the defence staff has lost a vote to be the next chair of the NATO Military Committee, the alliance's top military authority and a key advisory body for its political leaders.

Gen. Jennie Carignan's German counterpart named chair of influential advisory body

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Despite a push from the federal government, Canada's chief of the defence staff has lost a vote to be the next chair of the NATO Military Committee, the alliance's top military authority and a key advisory body for its political leaders.

Gen. Jennie Carignan and her German counterpart, Gen. Carsten Breuer, were vying for the position. Top military commanders from NATO's 32 members ultimately decided on Saturday to go with Breuer in a secret ballot election.

The news was announced on social media by the current chair, Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who congratulated Breuer on his election.

"Your operational judgement, your deep familiarity with this alliance and your leadership of the German Armed Forces will serve NATO well," Dragone said.

A Canadian has not held this position in almost two decades — the last being retired general Ray Henault between 2005 and 2008. Had she won, Carignan would have been the first woman to lead the Military Committee in the 77-year history of the alliance.

Statement on the election of a new chair of the NATO Military Committee: <a href="https://t.co/8lMUTVhDQ5">pic.twitter.com/8lMUTVhDQ5</a>

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In a statement posted to social media, Carignan congratulated Breuer and said, "it was an honour to stand as a candidate and to engage with my fellow Allied Chiefs of Defence throughout this process."

"There is important work ahead for our Alliance, and I know General Breuer will bring strong leadership to his new role. I deeply value the close relationship we have built and look forward to continuing to work together on our NATO initiatives," Carignan added.

On Friday, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Carignan deserved the job because she's worked very hard and has "enormous credibility."

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"She has reached out to her counterparts in all NATO alliance member countries," McGuinty said following a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa. "It would be historical and groundbreaking, the first woman chief of defence to chair such a committee."

CBC News has contacted McGuinty's office for comment on the election result.

Potential U.S. obstacles to Carignan appointment

Experts who previously spoke to CBC News said a potential roadblock to Carignan winning would be U.S. President Donald Trump — particularly after Prime Minister Mark Carney formally unveiled his intent to strengthen Canada's ties to the European Union.

"Trump is not going to let a Canadian or a woman be the head of the military committee, if anybody around him has paid attention to it," said Steven Saideman, a defence expert at Carleton University who's written extensively about NATO.

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The elected chair, Breuer, is a 61-year-old army officer who earned the nickname "the chancellor's general" after then-German chancellor Olaf Scholz picked him to lead a crisis committee that helped manage the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022.

He joined the Bundeswehr in an air defence unit in 1984, and later attended the U.S. general staff college in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., as well as German general staff training in Hamburg.

In 2014, Breuer served with NATO's International Security Assistance Force in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Dragone said on social media that Breuer will take office in July 2027.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Lopez Steven is an associate producer for CBC's The House and a digital writer with CBC Politics. He was also a 2024 Joan Donaldson Scholar and a graduate of Carleton University. You can reach him at benjamin.steven@cbc.ca or find him on X at @bensteven_s.