Canadian French: [kanadɑ] is a country located in the

Foreign relations and military 
Main articles: Foreign relations of Canada and Military history of Canada 
Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in international affairs 
with a tendency to pursue multilateral solutions.
[166]
 Canada's foreign policy 
based on international peacekeeping and security is carried out through 

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coalitions and international organizations, and through the work of numerous 
federal institutions.
[167]
 Canada's peacekeeping role during the 20th century 
has played a major role in its global image.
[168]
 The strategy of the Canadian 
government's foreign aid policy reflects an emphasis to meet the Millennium 
Development Goals, while also providing assistance in response to foreign 
humanitarian crises.
[169]
 
Canada was a founding member of the United Nations and has membership 
in the World Trade Organization, the G20 and theOrganisation for Economic 
Co-operation and Development (OECD).
[166]
 Canada is also a member of 
various other international and regional organizations and forums for 
economic and cultural affairs.
[170]
 Canada acceded to the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976.
[171]
 Canada joined 
the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1990 and hosted the OAS 
General Assembly in 2000 and the 3rd Summit of the Americas in 
2001.
[172]
 Canada seeks to expand its ties to Pacific Rim economies through 
membership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).
[173]
 
Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border, 
co-operate on military campaigns and exercises, and are each other's largest 
trading partner.
[174][175]
 Canada nevertheless has an independent foreign 
policy, most notably maintaining full relations with Cuba, and declining to 
officially participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
[176]
 Canada also maintains 
historic ties to the United Kingdom and France and to other former British and 
French colonies through Canada's membership in the Commonwealth of 
Nations and 
the Francophonie.
[177]
 Canada 
is 
noted 
for 
having 
a 
positive relationship with the Netherlands, owing, in part, to its contribution to 
the Dutch liberation during World War II.
[76]
 
Canada's strong attachment to the British Empire and Commonwealth led to 
major participation in British military efforts in the Second Boer War, World 
War I and World War II.
[178]
 Since then, Canada has been an advocate for 

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multilateralism, making efforts to resolve global issues in collaboration with 
other nations.
[179][180]
 During the Cold War, Canada was a major contributor to 
UN forces in the Korean Warand founded the North American Aerospace 
Defense Command (NORAD) in co-operation with the United States to 
defend against potential aerial attacks from the Soviet Union.
[181]
 
During 
the Suez 
Crisis of 
1956, 
future 
Prime 
Minister Lester 
B. 
Pearson eased tensions by proposing the inception of the United Nations 
Peacekeeping Force, for which he was awarded the 1957 Nobel Peace 
Prize.
[182]
 As this was the first UN peacekeeping mission, Pearson is often 
credited as the inventor of the concept.
[183]
 Canada has since served in over 
50 peacekeeping missions, including every UN peacekeeping effort until 
1989,
[70]
 and has since maintained forces in international missions in Rwanda, 
the formerYugoslavia, and elsewhere; Canada has sometimes faced 
controversy over its involvement in foreign countries, notably in the 
1993 Somalia Affair.
[184]
 
In 2001, Canada deployed troops to Afghanistan as part of the US 
stabilization force and the UN-authorized, NATO-led International Security 
Assistance Force.
[185]
 In February 2007, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, 
Norway, and Russia announced their joint commitment to a $1.5-billion 
project to help develop vaccines for developing nations, and called on other 
countries to join them.
[186]
 In August 2007, Canada's territorial claims in the 
Arctic were challenged after a Russian underwater expedition to the North 
Pole; Canada has considered that area to be sovereign territory since 
1925.
[187]
 
The nation employs a professional, volunteer military force of approximately 
79,000 
active 
personnel 
and 
32,250 
reserve 
personnel.
[188]
The 
unified Canadian Forces (CF) comprise the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian 
Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force. In 2013, Canada'smilitary 

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expenditure totalled approximately C$19 billion, or around 1% of the country's 
GDP.
[189][190]
 Following the 2016 Defence Policy Review, the Canadian 
government announced a 70% increase to the country's defence budget over 
the next decade. The Canadian Forces will acquire 88 fighter planes and 15 
naval surface combatants, the latter as part of the National Shipbuilding 
Procurement Strategy. Canada's total military expenditure is expected to 
reach C$32.7 billion by 2027.
[191]