Sections of the Canadian government agreed with the EU opinion on the unlawfullnes of Canada arresting EU vessels outside the Canadian EEZ. There were strong opponents in the Canadian cabinet, from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence and within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who had different concerns over confronting the European Union, an allied NATO member. Tobin managed to frame the issue and gain the support of the prime minister. This settled the issue in the cabinet; it was persuaded to arrest a Spanish vessel if diplomacy failed.