May 13, 2014 - Kuwait City, Kuwait
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday in Kuwait City, Kuwait on the establishment of an Operational Support Hub in that country for the Government of Canada. It was signed) by Rear-Admiral W.S. Truelove, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force (Pacific), on behalf of Lieutenant-General Stu Beare, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command. Signing on behalf of Kuwait was Lieutenant General Mohammad Khaled Al-Khedher, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces.
The MOU will allows Canada to establish and maintain an Operational Support Hub (OSH) for Canadian Armed Forces personnel, materiel and equipment to transit through Kuwait to and from areas of operation outside of Kuwait, or who may be present in Kuwait.
Defence relations and cooperation between Canada and Kuwait have grown significantly in recent years. The MOU will enhance the strong, positive bilateral relations that exist between our two countries.
• The MOU builds on a previous, similar arrangement signed in 2011 which established an Operational Support Detachment in Kuwait in support of Canadian operations in Afghanistan. The new MOU establishes an OSH that is broader in its mandate and scope, as it may be used to support a variety of operations outside of Kuwait including peacekeeping, development, and humanitarian aid and disaster-relief.
• An OSH is not a military base.
• An OSH is a series of pre-negotiated arrangements with other countries and service providers in those countries to facilitate the movement of people, materiel, equipment, and supplies in far-reaching locations. These arrangements can also be activated if required, in order to provide a location for these services.
“In signing this MOU, the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces build upon a history of friendship and positive defence ties with Kuwait, and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to security in the Gulf region.”
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence
“This MOU allows us to sustain the Canadian Armed Forces’ capability to support military activities in the region as required. This Operational Support Hub is part of a vital network of Canadian military cooperation with partners throughout the region.”
Lieutenant-General S.A. Beare, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command
Johanna Quinney
Press Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Office of the Minister of the Department of National Defence
(613) 996-3100
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: (613) 996-2353
Toll-Free: 1 866 377-0811
