What is DMTC/MTCP?

HISTORY

The Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP) was established in 1963 out of a series of international agreements aimed at providing military advisors and training assistance to select, newly-independent Commonwealth countries. It was later incorporated into the Department of National Defence (DND) under the Director General – International Security Policy (DGIS Pol) as its only V10 international training and capacity building program. .

Today, the MTCP plays a critical role in building partner capacity and advancing defence diplomacy by delivering sponsored training to MoD-nominated personnel from 67 developing, non-NATO member countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Often, the Program acts as first contact to strategically-relevant countries.

The Program’s activities are conducted in partnership with DND/CAF and international subject matter expertise and are non-lethal in nature, falling under the broad categories of language, staff officer, peace support operations (PSO), and professional development training. Training is largely multilateral, bringing together candidates from across the globe and enabling joint participation in peace support operations.

MANDATE

The MTCP’s mandate continues to evolve to deliver programming in support of DND’s global engagement goals. Today, the Program aims to achieve the following goals:

• Enhance peace support operations interoperability among Canada’s partners;
• Foster and reinforce Canadian bilateral defence relations;
• Promote Canadian democratic principles, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights in the international arena; and
• Achieve influence in areas of strategic interest to Canada / Promoting Canadian strategic partnerships through delivery of capacity-building activities as a key element of defence diplomacy.

POLICY DIRECTIVES

The MTCP’s mandate is closely linked to Canadian engagement in the world as outlined by Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) and DND’s Guidance on International Priorities for Defence Engagement (GIPDE).

Finally, the Program responds to DND/CAF’s Guidance on International Priorities for Defence Engagements, which provides guidance on international defence diplomacy activities and promotes prioritization and coherence in resource allocation. The Strategy outlines the fundamental interests driving defence diplomacy and provides a framework for prioritization.

SSE outlines a broad vision for Canadian defence to be strong at home, secure in North America, and engaged in the world. The Program directly supports SSE mission 5, which states that “[t]he Canadian Armed Forces will […] engage in capacity building to support the security of other nations and their ability to contribute to security abroad,” (SSE 82). The Program’s mandate further incorporates SSE goals by promoting Canadian democratic principles and increasing peace support interoperability with member countries.

The MTCP also incorporates the strategic interests, objectives, and policy priorities as outlined by GIPDE, which provides guidance on international defence diplomacy activities, priorities, and engagement. This document further highlights the importance of capacity building as an engagement tool and driver for defence engagements.