OTTAWA – General Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of the Defence Staff, welcomed General Knud Bartels, the Chief of Defence of Denmark, to Ottawa on May 13 -14 to discuss a range of issues of common interest, including the Arctic, NATO, Afghanistan, and counter-piracy.
General Natynczyk and General Bartels also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Arctic Defence, Security, and Operational Cooperation. The MOU will enable Canada and Denmark to deepen cooperation in our respective Arctic regions, through enhanced consultation, information exchange, visits, and exercises. The MOU builds on a joint visit by the Canadian and Danish Chiefs of Defence to the Canadian Arctic and Greenland in August 2009.
“This arrangement will help promote solid defence and security collaboration between our two countries in the Arctic Region,” said General Natynczyk. “Working together to enhance our ability to respond to emergencies through cooperative exercises in the Arctic is key to safety and to strengthening interoperability in the Arctic.”
General Bartels said the MOU confirms the operational cooperation between Canada and Denmark in the Arctic region. “The signing of the MOU clearly shows that both Denmark and Canada see deepened collaboration and teamwork as the key to address our joint challenges in the Arctic region,” said the Danish top general.
Canada and Denmark already cooperate closely in the Arctic. Last month, a Danish dog sledge patrol team from Greenland met up with Canadian Rangers in the High Arctic during Operation NUNALIVUT. Denmark will also participate in the military exercise portion of Operation NANOOK 2010, a major Canadian Forces operation in Canada’s North.
For a photo of the MOU ceremony, click on this link:
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