General Jany Karinian took office as the Chief of Defense Staff in Canada yesterday, Thursday, in a ceremony that made her the first woman to lead the armed forces in the country.

Karianian received her training to become a military engineer and has led troops on missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, and Syria during her 35 years of service in the army.

Karianian said at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, "I feel ready and prepared and have the support to face this challenge in its many forms."

She added, "The conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, the increasing tensions elsewhere around the world, climate change, the growing demands on our soldiers at home and abroad, and the threats to our values and democratic institutions are just a few of the complex challenges that we need to adapt to and confront."

Karianian takes over the position from General Wayne Eyre, who has held the role since 2021, at a time when Canada is seeking to increase defense spending and modernize its armed forces.

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his government's intention to achieve NATO's defense spending target of two percent of GDP by 2032.

Canadian defense spending is expected to reach 1.39 percent of GDP in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, according to government forecasts.