Readout of Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre’s Engagements in the Indo-Pacific

June 19, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre recently concluded a series of productive engagements in the Indo-Pacific, starting with the Shangri-La Dialogue on 2-4 June in Singapore and in support of Minister of National Defence Anita Anand’s program at Asia’s leading defence and security summit. To discuss Canada’s contributions to regional peace and security in line with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, General Eyre met with several counterparts and representatives from Australia, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the United States. Discussions centred around the historic role of the Canadian Armed Forces in promoting regional stability, upcoming deployments, and multilateral exercises in the Indo-Pacific, and how Canada can further demonstrate its ongoing commitment to allies and partners.

General Eyre also held key engagements in Japan and the Republic of Korea to build important relationships with like-minded nations.

In Japan, General Eyre received briefings from members of the Japan Self Defense Forces on multinational operations in the region, as well as on the latest efforts by the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center. He met with the Chairman of the Japanese Joint Staff, General Yoshihide Yoshida and State Minister of Defense, Mr. Toshiro Ino to discuss how Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Japan’s National Security Strategy can align military efforts and expand further cooperation and coordination between Japan and Canada. During the meetings, they expressed mutual appreciation for the collaboration and assistance in evacuating Japanese and Canadian citizens from Sudan.

While in Okinawa, General Eyre met with United States Marine Corps Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), Lieutenant General James Bierman and Commanding General 3rd Marine Division, Major General Jay Bargeron, to share perspectives on the Indo-Pacific and how the Canadian Armed Forces and III MEF can work together in the region going forward.

During his visit to Tokyo, General Eyre held a security discussion with United States Navy Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander US 7th Fleet, and took the time to meet with Canadian and multi-national staff serving in the Enforcement Coordination Cell and received an update on the cell’s activities and achievements in the region.

In the Republic of Korea, General Eyre met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kim Seung-kyum, and the Minister of National Defense Mr. Lee Jong-sup, where they discussed Canada and the Republic of Korea’s shared values of freedom, rule of law and human rights, the similarities between the two countries’ Indo-Pacific Strategies and how Canada and the Republic of Korea can maintain their close military cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.

While in Seoul, General Eyre was honoured to be greeted by the President of the War Memorial of Korea, Baek Seung-joo, and to lay a wreath with two Canadian Officer Cadets on exchange alongside two of their Korean classmates. He also met with the President of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seok-Jin Yoon to discuss advancing technologies and how Canada and the Republic of Korea can share insights and ideas. He also met with United Nations Command (UNC) Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Harrison, and Canadian staff for an update on UNC structure and future priorities in the Korean Peninsula. General Eyre also visited with Combined Forces Command Deputy Commander, General Ahn Byung-seok, participating in various discussions reaffirming shared values, priorities, and relationships between allies on the Korean Peninsula.

As a Pacific nation, Canada will expand its defence presence in the Indo-Pacific in line with the progressive implementation of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. This expansion requires strengthening existing partnerships and creating new relationships with like-minded partners in the region. General Eyre’s engagements continue to demonstrate progress towards increased collaboration and participation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

Associated links

• Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Operation PROJECTION
• Operation NEON
• Canada and the Republic of Korea Relations
• Canada and Japan Relations