Abstract
Engaged from the outset in the US-led international coalition against Daesh, Canada and France have, however, varied significantly in the nature and execution of their military involvement. This article compares the military participation of France and Canada in the war against Daesh, arguing that alliance imperatives played a dominant role in both countries’ commitments. However, other variables influenced French and Canadian decisions. Paris justified its commitment by the security threat posed by the Islamic State, which favoured the non-politicisation of this operation, unlike Canada, where electoral constraints impacted its military commitment. While Canada ended its combat operations following the election of Justin Trudeau, France maintained a significant contribution throughout the conflict. Canada therefore shifted its military contribution to respond to electoral constraints while remaining a reliable ally of NATO and the United States, while France used the intervention to strengthen its ties with the United States, and more specifically the interoperability of its armed forces with those of its allies.