Henault, currently Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, described Russia's announcement Wednesday as "obviously very significant."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would soon be armed with nuclear weapons systems "which do not exist and are unlikely to exist in other nuclear powers."

But Henault said he did not know the details of the planned new Russian weaponry.

"We will have to talk to them," he said, adding there was already close cooperation between NATO and Russia, including regular talks in the framework of the NATO-Russia Council.

Talking to Canadian reporters by teleconference call from NATO headquarters, Henault said his appointment as the NATO Council's top military adviser was a "great honour for Canada" and a recognition of Canada's role in the alliance.

Henault will take over as chair of the military committee next June. He will remain as chief of defence staff in Ottawa until April.

Looking ahead to his first months as the top military advisor to the NATO Council, Henault said priorities included integrating the seven new members of the alliance into the NATO command structure and tackling new international security problems.

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