OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning Russia that it will face “real consequences” for its aggression on the world stage and here in Canada, where he said social media and propaganda have been used to meddle in democracy, including a smear campaign aimed at Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Flanked by Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, Trudeau said that Russia's “illegimate and illegal” actions — from its 2014 invasion of Crimea to the more recent poisoning on British soil — cannot go unchallenged.

“There need to be clear consequences from the international community on Russia’s continual desire to upset or cause trouble in the international order, international peace, stability and governance,” Trudeau said.

Canada last month expelled four Russian diplomats as part of a concerted action with the U.S. and Great Britain to punish Moscow for its alleged involvement in the nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-intelligence officer and his daughter in England.

In a statement at the time, Freeland accused the four Russians of using their diplomatic status to “undermine Canada’s security or interfere in our democracy.”

Asked about that comment Wednesday, Trudeau said that “Russian propagandists” attempted to discredit Freeland “in various ways, through social media and by sharing scurrilous stories about her.”

Trudeau offered no specifics but Freeland last year faced questions about her grandfather’s wartime role at a Nazi-operated newspaper, a history circulated on pro-Russia social media accounts and websites at the time.

“There are multiple ways Russia uses cyber, social media, propaganda to sway public opinion, to try and push a pro-Russia narrative,” Trudeau said.

He said that Canada continues to talk with allies about potential further action to drive home the message that it’s not in Russia’s self interests or the global interests “to continue with these types of behaviours.”

Stoltenberg also said spoke out against Russia’s actions, saying that Moscow had “underestimated” NATO’s resolve and unity to push back against what he called “reckless behaviour.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is commending Canada for its “strong increase” in defence spending. Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Wednesday.

He said that Russia’s invasion of Crimea triggered the biggest deployment by NATO since the end of the Cold War as alliance members dispatched forces to Eastern Europe to deter further aggression. That includes Canada, which has 450 soldiers in Latvia heading up a NATO battle group.

That pattern of behaviour was underscored again Wednesday when Russia test-fired several missiles into the Baltic Sea, Stoltenberg said.

“At the same time we don’t want a new Cold War, we don’t want a new arms race. We are focussed on how can we respond in a firm, strong, predictable but also measured and defensive way,” Stoltenberg said.

“Russia is here to stay, Russia is our neighbour so we will continue to strive for a more constructive relationship,” he said, whose visit to Ottawa coincided with the 69th anniversary of the founding of the military alliance.

Stoltenberg praised Canada’s pledge to increase defence spending “after years of decline” and boost the size of its military and its commitment to NATO operations, including fighter planes, warships and the recent decision by Ottawa to participate in the alliance’s airborne warning program.

He said NATO is seeking to increase its naval capabilities, particularly in the north, as a reaction to Russia’s increased activity in the region. But he said the response would be “measured . . . to try to continue tensions low in the high north.”

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