EventStatement
Adm. Paparo (INDOPACOM), beside Gen. Carignan in Victoria: an order to attack Canada is 'absolutely and utterly preposterous'; 'I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief'
Joint press conference closing the 28th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference in Victoria, B.C., co-hosted by Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan and Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command (National Defence release), Wed 2026-09-02. Asked under what circumstances he would obey an order to launch military action against Canada, Paparo said: "I find that scenario to be absolutely and utterly preposterous. I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief but that is a needlessly emotional question," and added: "Would you ask me please, also, what my attack plans are for the Martians?" (Canadian Press; The Maple; CPAC recording at about 7:23-8:16). Carignan stood beside him and did not answer that question. The remarks on military-to-military relations versus politics were Paparo's, in reply to an earlier follow-up addressed to him: such relations are carried out "without emotion" and militaries are "designed to remain apolitical" (CPAC at about 3:43; Canadian Press; Ottawa Citizen). Paparo also called Canada a close and "indispensable" ally (Canadian Press) and said Canada's equipment choices are its own sovereign decision: the US asks for interoperability, not US purchases (CPAC at about 0:33). This came three weeks before Carney's NYT remark.
- Date
- Kind
- Statement
- Where
- United States
- Evidence
- Statement: Something was said. Weighted lowest: words cost less than actions. How evidence is weighed
- Who
- US Department of Defense (styled 'Department of War' from 2025) (acted); Samuel J. Paparo (spoke); Jennie Carignan (counterparty)
When people heard about it
The public does not always learn of an event when it happens: some come out later, and old ones can become news again because of something newer.
- Happened
- First reported
- (same day), in The Globe and Mail
- Back in the news
- (22 days later), after Carney to the NYT: he looked at the 'extreme tail risk' of US military action; 'not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to'; in paNOW / The Canadian Press
- Back in the news
- (22 days later), after Carney to the NYT: he looked at the 'extreme tail risk' of US military action; 'not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to'; in CBC News
Articles that cite this record
Sources
- The Maple, “U.S. Admiral Refuses To Say If He'd Obey Order To Invade Canada” (external site), . source record
- CPAC, “Military leaders speak with reporters at Indo-Pacific Defense Conference - September 2, 2026” (external site), . source record
- The Canadian Press (Yahoo News Canada), “Commander suggests U.S. war on 'Martians' as likely as an invasion of Canada” (external site), . source record
- Ottawa Citizen (Yahoo News Canada), “U.S. admiral dodges questions about attacking Canada but acknowledges he would follow Trump's orders” (external site), . source record
- National Defence (Government of Canada), “Canada concludes 28th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria” (external site), . source record
- CBC News, “ANALYSIS: Carney's comments over possibility of U.S. invasion reveal how contingency plans are always in place” (external site), . source record
- The Globe and Mail, “Invading Canada would be 'preposterous,' U.S. commander says at Indo-Pacific military meeting” (external site), . paywalled source record
Quotes
“I find that scenario to be absolutely and utterly preposterous. … I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief, but that is a needlessly emotional question.”
From The Maple: U.S. Admiral Refuses To Say If He'd Obey Order To Invade Canada, para. 3