The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Government of Canada has renewed Operation CALUMET, the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, until March 31, 2022.

“The renewal of Operation CALUMET demonstrates Canada’s long-standing support to peace support operations in the Middle East. I am proud of the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces who are contributing to regional security and stability while they participate in one of Canada’s longest ongoing international commitments.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence

“Canada’s unwavering contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers demonstrates its commitment to lasting peace and security in the Middle East.”

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Under the renewed Operation CALUMET, Canada will deploy 55 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to Egypt. The Canadian contingent will include senior advisors, headquarters staff, and experts in fields such as remote observation, logistics, engineering, policing, and training. These personnel serve in senior and highly-specialized roles to support and enhance key MFO capabilities.

• From March 2015 to March 2019, approximately 30 Canadian military police officers supported the MFO Military Police Unit. On March 23, 2019, they concluded their four-year mandate of leading the multinational unit (Canada, Colombia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the United States) in the conduct of policing duties in the North and South camps of the MFO. 

• The MFO is an independent international organization with peacekeeping responsibilities in the Sinai Peninsula. It was established in 1981 by the United States with Egypt and Israel, and is responsible for supervising the implementation of Annex 1 (the “Security Annex”) of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty.

• The MFO is comprised of approximately 1200 personnel from twelve nations: Australia, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of the Fiji Islands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay. MFO Sinai is the largest element of the MFO and is a joint organization with ground, air, and naval elements, as well as civilian components.

Associated links

• Strong, Secure, Engaged: Canada’s Defence Policy
• Operation CALUMET
• Canadian Forces Combat Camera – Operation CALUMET
• Multinational Force & Observers
• @CFOperations

Todd Lane
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: todd.lane@forces.gc.ca

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Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs 
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