Minister of National Defence Visits Troops in Poland

News Release

December 9, 2014

OTTAWA – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C, M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence, today visited Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members deployed in the Republic of Poland on Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s response to Russia’s military aggression towards Ukraine. The CAF members have been deployed in Poland to help ensure peace and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.

Minister Nicholson also travelled to Warsaw and visited Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tomasz Siemoniak and Minister of Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna, in addition to participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Quick Facts

Canada and Poland enjoy positive bilateral defence relations dating back to their close cooperation in the Second World War. Canada was the first country to ratify the Accession Protocols for Polish accession to NATO in 1999. Since 1997, more than 400 senior Polish officers have been trained in Canada. Canada and Poland are among the strongest international supporters of Ukraine’s efforts to restore stability and implement democratic and economic reforms.
The Canadian Army has often trained with the Polish Army in the past: Parachutists trained together in Quebec during Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE in January and February 2014; they did winter training together in Newfoundland and Labrador during Exercise NORTHERN SAPPER in February 2014; and the Canadian Army joined Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian counterparts in Lithuania during Exercise MAPLE ARCH September 2013.
Approximately 120 Canadian soldiers deployed to Eastern and Central Europe to take part in a variety of training exercises between May and December 2014. The exercises were designed to develop and enhance interoperability, readiness, joint operations capabilities and multinational responses to potential crises. Canadian troops worked in collaboration with the Polish Army on Exercise ANAKONDA, Exercise GNIEZNO and Exercise PEGASUS KORSARZ.
Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities undertaken by the CAF to support NATO assurance measures through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks. The CAF’s response in support of NATO’s request promotes security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe, and demonstrates Canada's steadfast commitment to our allies in the region.

Quotes

“I would like to thank the the Polish Armed Forces, and the Polish people, for being such wonderful hosts to our men and women in uniform. Canada and Poland have long been great Allies, and our militaries have strengthened these ties through recent training exercises. As we have been working to enhance interoperability and readiness we have also demonstrated our support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of European countries.”
The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C, M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence

Associated Links

Operation REASSURANCE

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Contacts

Johanna Quinney
Press Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Office of the Minister of National Defence
613) 996-3100

Media inquiries

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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Minister of National Defence Visits Troops in Poland

News Release

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