International Security

Operation UNIFIER (Ukraine)

Key Facts

Details

• In 2015, Canada launched Operation UNIFIER in response to requests from the Government of Ukraine, with the intent to help Ukraine remain sovereign, secure, and stable.
• The mission was renewed in 2017, 2019, and most recently in January 2022.
• The Canadian Armed Forces has been providing Ukrainian security forces with specialized training to help improve their capability and capacity and assist them towards NATO interoperability.
• Activities include advising and assisting unit and brigade level tactical training, combat engineer training such as improvised explosive device disposal and explosive ordnance disposal; sniping; reconnaissance; military policing; and medical and advanced first aid training. They also include security forces of Ukraine junior officers and Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) personnel development initiatives in various schools and academies.
• The Canadian Armed Forces coordinates its efforts with the U.S. and other countries that support in the same way. The training mission harmonizes its efforts with other nations through a Multinational Joint Commission. This commission includes Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark and Sweden.
• National Defence also provides institutional level support to help advance Ukraine’s defence reform process. Current support is focused on:
  • Defence governance, including command and control;
  • Senior level military professional development;
  • Professional Military Education reform;
  • Defence procurement; and,
  • Defence policy.
• From 2014 to 2020, Canada supplied non-lethal military gear to the Ukraine.
• In 2021, Operation UNIFIER saw the first ever Canadian female-to-female transfer of command authority.

Operation REASSURANCE

Key Facts

Details

• In 2016, NATO agreed to enhance its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance to deter and defend against potential adversaries. As part of this effort, NATO established three distinct missions in Europe: an enhanced Forward Presence, Standing Naval Forces, and a tailored Forward Presence. Under Operation REASSURANCE, Canada contributes to all three.
• Canada’s participation in NATO’s deterrence and defence efforts in Europe contributes to European security, stability, and prosperity. Canada’s contributions also reinforce our commitment to the rules-based international order, demonstrate our transatlantic solidarity, and highlight our active leadership in the Alliance.
• The 2021 Mandate Letter tasked the Minister of National Defence with ensuring Canada remains a leading contributor to NATO operations, including by extending Operation REASSURANCE in Eastern Europe.

Battle Group Latvia (Enhanced Forward Presence)

• Canada leads a NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia with military members from 10 nations, including: Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. Iceland also provides support through Strategic Communications.
• The Battle Group serves to deter and, if necessary, defend against Russian aggression in Latvia. To this end, it conducts collective training and exercises that foster interoperability among NATO Allies.

Standing Naval Forces (Standing NATO Maritime Groups)

• Since 2014, Canada regularly contributes one frigate to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMGs), which conduct assurance measures and surveillance in European waters, alternating occasionally between Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (Baltic, Northern Seas, and Eastern Atlantic) and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (Mediterranean).
• In December 2021, HMCS Fredericton returned from a 6-month deployment as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 after successfully completing exercises and maritime security operations with Allied Navies and Air Elements.
• HMCS Fredericton was replaced by the HMCS Montreal, which set sail January 19, 2022.

Air Task Force (Tailored Forward Presence)

• Canada contributes, on a rotational basis, to a peacetime collective air policing mission to safeguard the integrity of NATO airspace in South-Eastern Europe.
• On September 1, 2021, Canada deployed an Air Task Force to Romania to undertake an enhanced Air Policing mission.
• This rotation, which concluded on November 30, 2021, was the sixth time that the Canadian Armed Forces deployed an Air Task Force to Romania on Operation REASSURANCE, with previous deployments occurring in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• Two more rotations are currently scheduled for 2022 and 2023.

Contribution to NATO

Key Facts

Details

Canada’s Contributions to NATO-related Operations:

• Operation REASSURANCE: This operation is Canada’s contribution of land, air, and naval assets and personnel to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and promote peace and stability in the region.
• Under this operation, Canada contributes to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, NATO’s tailored Forward Presence in South-Eastern Europe, and NATO’s Standing NATO Maritime Groups.
  • Land: Canada contributes 540 Canadian Armed Forces members to and leads a multinational NATO Battle Group of approximately 1,500 soldiers in Latvia.
  • Sea: Canada currently contributes one frigate to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 with HMCS MONTREAL.
  • Air: Five CF-18 Hornets and approximately 135 Canadian Armed Forces members recently concluded a deployment to Romania for a NATO Air Policing mission
  • 2021: Commodore Bradley Peats commanded Standing NATO Maritime Group One. 
• Operation IMPACT: Under this operation, the CAF deploys members to NATO Mission Iraq to support institutional and ministerial-level reform in the Iraqi military. Canada commanded the NATO training and capacity building mission in Iraq from 2018-2020.
  • Then-Major-General Jennie Carignan held command of NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) from November 2019 to November 2020, the first woman to do so.
• Operation KOBOLD: Canada contributes CAF personnel to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) as part of the NATO-led peace-support operation. Canada’s personnel are providing logistical and headquarters support to NATO’s Kosovo Force. Should operational requirements change, the authorities are in place to surge deployment of up to 15 personnel to Op KOBOLD.
• Operation ALLIED SOLACE: NATO stood up Operation ALLIED SOLACE to airlift over 1,000 NATO-Affiliated Afghan contractors (those without a direct NATO member-state affiliation) and their immediate families from Kuwait and Qatar to temporary camps in Kosovo and Poland. Canada has contributed three translators to Camp Bechtel in Kosovo in support of this operation.
• GBA+:
  • One Gender Advisor is deployed on Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force and one Gender Advisor on NATO Mission Iraq to ensure GBA+ aspects are integrated when planning, and running operations.
  • November 2019 – November 2020: Lieutenant-General Carignan commanded NATO Mission Iraq.
  • 2019: Commodore Josée Kurtz was the first woman to command Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.
• Other NATO Contributions: A Canadian, Chief Warrant Officer Mathers, is currently the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) at NATO's Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) (three star headquarters) in Izmir, Turkey and will become the CSEL at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) for Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in April 22.

NATO Centre of Excellence on Climate and Security

• 14 June 2021: Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s proposal to establish and host a new NATO Centre of Excellence (COE) on Climate and Security and work with Allies as the Centre’s framework nation.
  • Centre of Excellences are international military organizations that are established, run, and funded by individual NATO Allies or groups of Allies. NATO COEs train and educate personnel from Allied and Partner nations on specialized topics of relevance to the Alliance.
  • The Centre of Excellence would facilitate the exchange of expertise among Allies, build capacity to address the security implications of climate change, and help advance ongoing efforts to reduce the climate impact of military activities.

CAF Operations in Indo-Pacific

Key Facts

Details

• The Speech from the Throne 2021 and Canada’s Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged both call for a tailored approach to global partnerships, including through sustained efforts to deepen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
• The 2021 Mandate Letter tasked the Minister of National Defence with supporting the Minister of Foreign Affairs in developing and launching a comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy to deepen diplomatic and defence partnerships in the region.

Engagement Activities

• Canada continues to maintain and is working to deepen its defence relationships with long-standing partners (such as Five Eyes members Australia and New Zealand), and is strengthening its bilateral ties with other regional partners (such as Japan and the Republic of Korea). The Canadian Armed Forces participates in a wide range of defence engagement activities with these countries and other partners in the region.
• Part of the Canadian Armed Forces engagement activities are coordinated through the Military Training and Cooperation Program, which aims to enhance interoperability between partners in relation to peace support operations, to foster defence relations, and promote democratic principles, the rule of law, international stability, and the protection of human rights.
• Canada continues to support the United Nations Command in implementing the Korean Armistice Agreement and has done so for the last 70 years.
  • 2018-2019: Canada filled the Deputy Commander position of United Nations Command, the first non-US military member to do so.

Operation NEON

• Operation NEON is Canada’s contribution to the multinational effort to monitor United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions imposed against North Korea. These UNSC sanctions aim to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and missile launches.

Operation PROJECTION

• Under Operation PROJECTION, the Royal Canadian Navy deploys to the Indo-Pacific to provide a forward naval presence in the region and contribute to maritime security through engagement with allies and partners, port visits, and exercises.
• Halifax-class frigates, including a maritime helicopter detachment, are routinely deployed on Operation PROJECTION. HMCS Winnipeg’s recent deployment continues a trend of progressively more assertive and active deployments to the Indo-Pacific region by Canadian warships. Since 2015 Canada has:
  • Deployed frigates to the region 10 times, a submarine once, and a tanker twice;
  • Conducted four Taiwan Strait transits;
  • Conducted two Spratly Islands transits; and,
  • Conducted numerous multilateral and bilateral level exercises.
• Between September 2017 and March 2018, Canada deployed a submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, to North East Asia—the first such deployment in 50 years.

Capacity Building in Southeast Asia

• The Canadian Armed Forces is providing bilateral training and equipment to further develop the Malaysian Armed Forces’ response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

Global Affairs-Led Indo-Pacific Strategy

• In the 2021 Mandate Letters, the Prime Minister directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to “develop and launch a comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy to deepen diplomatic, economic and defence partnerships and international assistance in the region” and directed the Minister of National Defence to support this effort.
• This direction highlights the Government’s recognition of the role National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces plays in the region, as well as its intent to leverage military instruments of national power to implement the Strategy and deepen Canada’s partnerships.

Operation AEGIS (Afghanistan)

Key Facts

Details

Operation AEGIS (evacuation)

• Operation AEGIS was the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to the Government of Canada’s effort throughout August 2021, to evacuate Afghans with a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada, and their accompanying family members.
• National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces identified and referred Afghans with a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for eligibility review and processing, and assisted the evacuation of those eligible for resettlement to Canada.
• National Defence provided strategic airlift, including CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris, and CC-177 Globemaster aircraft, aircrew, and support staff to assist in evacuations, alongside flights chartered by Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
• The Canadian Armed Forces also provided force elements such as personnel and equipment to evacuate the Canadian Embassy – Kabul, Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and eligible Afghans identified by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
• Over the course of the operation, approximately 555 Canadian Armed Forces members were involved in Operation AEGIS. Approximately 250 Canadian Armed Forces members already in the region on other missions were re-tasked to support Operation AEGIS. A further 305 Canadian Armed Forces members were deployed to the region from Canada to support the effort.
• Through Operation AEGIS, National Defence contributed to the historic US-led coalition air bridge which facilitated the evacuation of over 100,000 people from Afghanistan under extremely challenging conditions.

Operation ALLIED SOLACE (Current Efforts)

• NATO stood up Operation ALLIED SOLACE to airlift over 1,000 NATO-Affiliated Afghan contractors (those without a direct NATO member-state affiliation) and their immediate families from Kuwait and Qatar to temporary camps in Kosovo and Poland.
• The Canadian Armed Forces has deployed three Afghan-Canadian members to Camp Bechtel, Kosovo, to serve as interpreters and help resettle NATO-Affiliated Afghans and their immediate families in Allied countries, including Canada.
• In support of Operation ALLIED SOLACE, Canada has resettled 472 NATO-Affiliated Afghan (NAA) contractors, inclusive of their families, from the camp in Kosovo. While Canada’s initial pledge was to resettle 150 NAAs, following a request from NATO’s Secretary General, Canada agreed to accept up to an additional 322 NAAs, subject to Canada’s national screening requirements.

Operation IMPACT (Iraq)

Key Facts

Details

Overview

• Operation IMPACT began in 2014 and is the military contribution to Canada’s whole-of-government Middle East Strategy to address instability caused by Da’esh.
• Canada works with partners in the region to set the conditions for stability and security in Iraq. Under Operation IMPACT, the Canadian Armed Forces: (1) supports the Global Coalition to degrade and defeat Da’esh, (2) contributes to NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), and (3) conducts bilateral training and capacity building with Jordan and Lebanon.
• The Canadian Armed Forces also:
  • Operates a Joint Intelligence Centre to gather vital information used to counter Da’esh.
  • Provides two CC-130 Hercules to ensure safe movement of cargo and personnel across the Joint Operations Area.
  • Canadian Special Operations Forces advise and assist the Iraqi security forces in developing their military skills, enabling them to take the fight to Da’esh.
• In support of these activities, up to 850 Canadian Armed Forces members could be deployed at one time in numerous command, support, training, advisory, and assistance roles.

NATO Mission Iraq

• The purpose of NMI is to help strengthen Iraqi Security Forces and Iraqi military education institutions so that Iraqi forces can prevent the return of Da’esh. After commanding the mission for two years (2018-2020), Canada transferred the command to Denmark on 24 November 2020. Canada is currently contributing approximately 15 personnel.
• Canada commanded NATO Mission Iraq from 2018 to 2020.
  • Then-Major-General Jennie Carignan commanded the NATO Mission Iraq between 2019 and 2020, the first and only woman to do so.

Bilateral Military Activities

• Canada deploys Training and Assistance Teams to Jordan and Lebanon of up to 25 and 20 personnel, respectively, to build the capacity of our regional partners through training, infrastructure, and equipment.

Operation IMPACT Allegations - Timeline

• In September 2018, Canadian Armed Forces personnel who were training Iraqi Security Forces members were shown videos of potential war crimes in which some of the Iraqi trainees may have participated.
• These Canadian Armed Forces personnel reported their concerns to their chain of command. Media reports from May/June 2021 detailed the efforts by these members to determine what actions were taken in response to their reports.
• In a June 2021 interview, Acting Chief of the Defence Staff, General Eyre, noted his grave concern with the allegations and stated that he had ordered an investigation to determine the facts.
• The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service investigation into the handling of the Canadian Armed Forces members’ reports is ongoing.

Operation ARTEMIS (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean)

Key Facts

Details

• Operation ARTEMIS is Canada’s contribution to the US-led, 34-nation naval partnership headquartered in Bahrain called Combined Maritime Forces, which works together to help stop terrorism and to make Middle Eastern waters more secure.
• Canada, through Op ARTEMIS, contributes personnel and assets to Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), which forms one of the three operational flotillas of Combined Maritime Forces:
  • CTF 150 – responsible for maritime security, counter-terrorism, and counter smuggling;
  • CTF 151 – responsible for counter-piracy; and
  • CTF 152 – responsible for maritime security in the Persian Gulf.
• The Area of Operations of Operation ARTEMIS encompasses more than two million square miles of international waters, including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, and the Indian Ocean.
• Canada’s first command of CTF 150 lasted from 3 June to 15 September 2008, with subsequent commands occurring:
  • 4 Dec 2013 – 6 Apr 2014
  • 8 Dec 2016 – 13 Apr 2017
  • 6 Dec 2018 – 28 April 2019
  • 27 Jan 2021 – 15 July 2021

Peacekeeping

Key Facts

Details

Peace Support Operations

• National Defence and Global Affairs Canada work together to fulfill Canada’s peacekeeping commitments and provide support to the UN along the entire spectrum of conflict prevention, peace support, and transition.
• Staff officer deployments to peace operations include:
  • Operation CROCODILE (Democratic Republic of the Congo): 9 military peacekeepers (1 female) deployed
  • Operation SOPRANO (South Sudan): 9 military peacekeepers (1 female) deployed
  • Operation PRESENCE (Mali): 7 military peacekeepers (2 female) deployed, plus two Canadian Armed Forces staff officers embedded within the United Kingdom Long Range Reconnaissance Task Force
  • Operation JADE (Middle East): 5 military peacekeepers deployed
  • Operation SNOWGOOSE (Cyprus): 1 military peacekeeper deployed
  • Operation CALUMET (non-UN Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai): 55 military peacekeepers (10 female) deployed

Operation PRESENCE

• Operation PRESENCE is the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to the Government of Canada’s peace operations strategy, announced at the Vancouver 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Meeting.
• This includes the following:
  • An Air Task Force, which was delivered from 2018 to 2019 to the UN Mission in Mali. Since 2019, Canada has deployed up to 10 staff officers to MINUSMA in Mali.
  • Tactical airlift support to UN missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan was renewed in July 2021, and will continue on an episodic basis until March 31, 2022.
  • Training and Subject Matter Experts to enhance the effectiveness of UN peace operations by augmenting the professionalism and technical competence of UN Troop Contributing Countries. For example, from August to September 2021, Canada deployed 9 trainers to Rwanda and Uganda to train members of UN Engagement Platoons.
• The mandate to implement Canada’s 2017 Vancouver commitments expires on March 31, 2022. Options for future commitments are currently under consideration.
• From August 2019 to present, Canada’s CC-130J aircraft in Entebbe, Uganda, has transported 1,243 personnel and 1,225,967 pounds of cargo with 458 hours of flight logged.

Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations

• Canada launched the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations at the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver. It is a multilateral pilot project that is developing and testing approaches to help overcome barriers and increase the meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN peace operations, with a focus on police and military roles.

Engagement Platoon

• The intent for UN Engagement Platoons is to be composed of at least 50% women, with an aim to leverage expertise and gender diversity to break down engagement barriers with local populations, identify vulnerable areas and at-risk populations, and provide enhanced situational awareness.
• Canada has provided significant support on Engagement Platoon training materials. The Canadian Armed Forces has provided subject matter expertise to the UN for the development and translation of these materials and has delivered two pilot ‘train the trainer’ courses in Rwanda and Uganda.

Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security

• We established the Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security in June 2019 with a mandate to ensure that the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers are fully integrated into the doctrine and practice of the Canadian Armed Forces.