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As alarm grows across Europe about growing Russian aggression towards NATO countries, Canada’s ambassador-designate to the European Union says Canada is right to be concerned because of its stake in the continent’s defence and security.

“Canada is an ally through NATO and increasingly working with the European Union, and obviously we have a strong stake in this as well,” Jonathan Wilkinson said in an interview with CTV Question Period airing Sunday. “We have soldiers in Latvia and a commitment under NATO to be part of the response if in fact there was a challenge.”

“So, I mean, we’re all concerned, and it’s important for us to act together to deter the Russians,” Wilkinson also told host Vassy Kapelos.

NATO’s Article 5 outlines the principle of collective defence and asserts that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

Worry about Russia’s actions have been growing amongst Canada’s allies in Europe.

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“I think we should all be concerned,” Wilkinson said, when asked by Kapelos about his level of worry at the prospect of potentially imminent Russian action. “I mean, some of the recent activities in Leipzig and elsewhere have shown the Russians are willing to actually do things that previously we would not have thought they would have done.”

“Europeans take this very, very seriously, and they should,” Wilkinson added. “It’s on their doorstep.”

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