First 2024 iteration of Canada’s Signature Arctic Sovereignty Exercise Begins

News release

March 1, 2024 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be hosting Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT, from March 1 to 17, 2024, in and around Resolute, Nunavut and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to demonstrate our resolve and ability to operate in the Arctic.

Over 300 CAF members will work alongside approximately 50 armed forces members from the United States, Belgium, Germany, and France. CAF members will be conducting activities including joint long-range patrols, austere logistics, and below-ice diving, with support from local and regional partners specializing in Arctic terrain, Arctic infrastructure, and Arctic logistics support.

Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT is a demonstration of the Government of Canada’s commitment to the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and reinforces commitments made in Strong, Secure and Engaged. It serves to strengthen the CAF’s presence in the Arctic while also enhancing our familiarity with the region.

Through the relationships built and maintained during Op NANOOK, the CAF helps to improve the military readiness of partners. This includes the delivery of training, as well as practicing techniques to ensure the CAF remains coordinated with our Allies and partners.

Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT also serves to demonstrate the CAF’s ability to project and sustain forces in the Arctic under the harshest conditions, build in-depth local knowledge, evaluate new capabilities and equipment, and improve interoperability with our Allies and partners.

Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT is one of four comprehensive annual activities designed to exercise the defence of Canada and to secure our northern regions, all under the name of Op NANOOK. These exercises take place from early Spring to late Summer, demonstrating the CAF’s presence and exercising Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.

Quotes

“It is increasingly important to be able to project and sustain forces in the Canadian Arctic. Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT is our opportunity to demonstrate Canada’s presence and sovereignty in the North, while training to operate in austere and difficult environments.”

Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command

“Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT 2024 will allow us to test and demonstrate our ability to operate in the Arctic. The North is a vast, harsh, and demanding environment – careful preparation and close collaboration with our Northern partners is key. Knowledge shared with those Allies and partners strengthens our collective ability to adapt and meet these challenges.”

Brigadier-General J.M.Y.D. Rivière, Commander, Joint Task Force (North)

Quick facts

Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT has been conducted annually since 2007 in various locations throughout Canada’s North, including Rankin Inlet, Tuktoyaktuk, and Inuvik. It is an all-domain defence and security operation designed to foster greater combined and joint interoperability with regional and international partners.
Resolute is one of Canada’s northernmost communities and is second only to Grise Fjord on Ellesmere Island. It is located approximately 3,000 km from the North Pole. CAF members will also be deploying to the research base at Eureka, Nunavut, which is only 1,000 km from the North Pole, and Pond Inlet, on the northernmost edge of Baffin Island.
CAF participation in this year’s Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT includes Regular and Reserve Force personnel from the following units:
- 2nd Canadian Division, Quebec, including:
  - Primary Reserve units under 35 Canadian Brigade Group;
  - 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment;
- 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group;
- Port Inspection Divers from the Naval Reserve;
- Combat Divers from:
  - 4 Engineer Support Regiment from Gagetown, New Brunswick;
  - 2 Combat Engineer Regiment from Petawawa, Ontario; and
  - 5 Combat Engineer Regiment from Valcartier, Quebec;
- Joint Task Force North Support Component; and
- 440 Transport Squadron, from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
There are approximately 50 foreign military members scheduled to participate in Operation NANOOK-NUNALVUT 2024. These include:
- Around 30 members of the US 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (86th IBCT);
- With the Dive Task Force:
  - Approximately 5 Belgian Naval Component Clearance Divers;
  - Approximately 5 French Army Combat; and
  - A German Dive Medical Officer as an observer.
Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) provides technical support to enable under-ice dive training during Op NANOOK-NUNALIVUT.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations Office
Department of National Defence
613-904-3333
mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2024-03-01