OTTAWA — The United States will “welcome and respect” whatever commitment Canada makes to help fight Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria, Hillary Clinton says.

The former U.S. Secretary of State spoke in Ottawa while MPs were debating the Harper government’s plan to send CF-18 fighter jets as part of the U.S.-led mission against Islamic State (ISIL) fighters.

Clinton said Americans are in agreement that ISIL is a significant new threat because “this kind of jihadist extremism is expansionary.”

Military action is essential to combat the well-financed, well-organized ISIL, Clinton said.

But it’s a long-term challenge that will have to include a range of efforts to help address the complex, multi-faceted political difficulties in the Middle East, she added.

She also said there is room for Canada and Americans to expand their already strong co-operative efforts, including doing more in the Arctic and working together to tackle climate change.

She declined to comment on whether the White House should approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the U.S.

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