Operation REASSURANCE

Maritime Task Force

Since 2014, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have deployed a warship on a persistent rotational basis to be employed for exercises and operational tasks in the NATO Maritime Command’s areas of responsibility.

HMCS Fredericton's deployment is part of a range of military activities undertaken by the CAF to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures. These activities include the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.

Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia

In June 2017, the CAF deployed about 540 Canadian Army members to Latvia. They lead a NATO Battle Group, which forms the backbone of the Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia, and provide support capabilities to this Allied force. The Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia comprises personnel from over one third of all NATO nations, including:

• Albania
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Iceland
• Italy
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia 
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain

This Battle Group and other specialist enablers work as part of the Latvian Land Forces Infantry Brigade. It is based at Camp Adazi, Latvia.

NATO has deployed eight such Battle Groups to the Baltic States, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. These Battle Groups demonstrate the strength of the NATO alliance, and aim to deter aggression, prevent conflict and protect stability in the region.

Task Force Poland

Since February 2022, the Russian aggression against its Ukrainian neighbor has generated a large number of refugees, a significant number of which fled to Poland. As such, on April 16, 2022, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) began assisting the Polish Territorial Defence Force (PTDF) with the manning of reception centers to welcome fleeing Ukrainians into Poland. As the flow of refugees has diminished over the summer, the PTDF either closed or handed over some of the reception centers to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and CAF support is no longer required at this moment in time. Consequently, as of July 31, 2022, CAF support to the reception centers in Poland has ended and CAF members have returned home to Canada. During their deployed period, CAF members working alongside their allies helped thousands of refugees with administrative support, CAF Health Services provided primary care to more than 2700 patients, CAF Chaplains provided spiritual support to more than 5800 refugees, and CAF translators provided linguistic support to over 30,000 Ukrainians. Additionally, CAF elements present in Poland also took part in interoperability training with their counterparts in the Polish Armed Forces.

Air Task Force - Romania

From February to the end of June 2022, a CP-140 Aurora long range patrol aircraft was tasked under NATO command and control, and carried out operations in the Euro-Atlantic Area. The aircraft returned to Canada on July 2nd.

As part of Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) deployed an Air Task Force (ATF) to Constanta, Romania, with approximately 170 CAF personnel and 6 CF-188 Hornet that participated in the Block 60 of NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania for four months from 1 August to 1 December, 2022. During this deployment, the CF-188 Hornet augmented the air policing capabilities of the Romanian Air Force.

This marked the seventh time that the CAF deployed an ATF to Romania on Op REASSURANCE. The first time was in 2014 in Campia Turzii, and then in Constanta, Romania, in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Air Task Force – Prestwick

On September 15, 2022, Air Task Force Prestwick (ATF-P) was created as part of the expansion of the tactical airlift detachment that previously supported operation REASSURANCE.

ATF-P is the main transport hub via which the CAF sustains various operations across the world, including NATO assurance and deterrence measures. In addition to its missions in support of Ukraine, ATF-P will support Canadian Armed Forces deployed missions including Operations REASSURANCE (Central and Eastern Europe), IMPACT (Middle East), PRESENCE (Africa) and OPEN SKIES.

To ensure capacity and operational flexibility, ATF-P operates three CC-130J Hercules aircrafts, and employs support personnel responsible for maintenance, cargo movements and administration. ATF-P is made up of approximately 60 Canadian Armed Forces members with further augmentation based on operational tempo. ATF-P uses a ‘Hub and Spoke’ concept of operations, which the RCAF has been operating in recent years both overseas and domestically.