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The first woman to command Canada鈥檚 military called out a U.S. senator on Nov. 23 for questioning the role of women in combat.

General Jennie Carignan responded to comments made by Idaho Republican Senator Jim Risch, the ranking member of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was asked on Nov. 22 whether President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, should retract comments that he believes men and women should not serve together in combat units.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 delusional for anybody to not agree that women in combat creates certain unique situations that have to be dealt with. I think the jury鈥檚 still out on how to do that,鈥� Mr. Risch said during a panel session at the Halifax International Security Forum on Nov. 22.

Ms. Carignan, Canada鈥檚 chief of defense staff and the first woman to command the armed forces of any Group of 20 or Group of Seven country, took issue with those remarks during a panel session on Nov. 23.

鈥淚f you鈥檒l allow me, I would first like maybe to respond to Senator Risch鈥檚 statement yesterday about women in combat because I wouldn鈥檛 want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that women are a distraction to defense and national security,鈥� Ms. Carignan said.

鈥淎fter 39 years of career as a combat arms officer and risking my life in many operations across the world, I can鈥檛 believe that in 2024, we still have to justify the contribution of women to their defense and to their service, in their country. I wouldn鈥檛 want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that this is that it is some kind of social experiment.鈥�

Ms. Carignan said women have been participating in combat for hundreds of years but have never been recognized for fighting for their countries. She noted the women military personnel in the room.

鈥淎ll the women sitting here in uniform, stepping in, and deciding to get into harm鈥檚 way and fight for their country, need to be recognized for doing so,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o again, this is the distraction, not the women themselves.鈥�

Ms. Carignan received a standing ovation at the forum, which attracts defense and security officials from Western democracies.

Mr. Hegseth has reignited a debate that many thought had been long settled: Should women be allowed to serve their country by fighting on the front lines?

The former Fox News commentator made it clear, in his own book and in interviews, that he believes men and women should not serve together in combat units. If Mr. Hegseth is confirmed by the Senate, he could try to end the Pentagon鈥檚 nearly decade-old practice of making all combat jobs open to women.

Mr. Hegseth鈥檚 remarks have generated a barrage of praise and condemnation.

Ms. Carignan was promoted to the rank of general during the change-of-command ceremony this past summer, after being chosen by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 government to become Canada鈥檚 first female defense chief.

Ms. Carignan is no stranger to firsts. She was also the first woman to command a combat unit in the Canadian military, and her career has included deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Syria.

For the last three years, she has been the chief of professional conduct and culture, a job created as a result of the sexual misconduct scandal in 2021.

Her appointment this year comes as Canada continues to face criticism from NATO allies for not spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense. The Canadian government recently said that it would reach its NATO commitment by 2032.

Mr. Risch said on Nov. 21 that Mr. Trump would laugh at Canada鈥檚 current military spending plans and said the country must do more.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.