Türkiye – Commodore Matthew Coates transferred command of Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) to Rear Admiral H. İlker Avcı of the Turkish Navy, during a ceremony at the Aksaz Naval Base in Türkiye. Having assumed command during a ceremony on July 1, 2024, Commodore Coates commanded SNMG2 from Flagship His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown …
Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement: “On this day 75 years ago, Canada was among the 12 Allies that founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). With Sweden having recently joined, we now stand strong at 32 Allies. NATO was created to safeguard the citizens of Allied …
Brussels – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to NATO’s Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia will soon have two new defensive capabilities that are being acquired on an urgent basis. This new equipment will strengthen the defence capacity of the Battle Group as a whole, further adding to the deterrence capabilities of soldiers from …
Riga – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, arrived in Latvia for his first official visit to the country. Minister Blair is accompanied by General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff. Over the coming days, Minister Blair and General Eyre will be thanking Canadian Armed Forces members deployed in Latvia, and meeting with Latvian officials to strengthen Canada’s defence relationship with a close NATO Ally. Minister Blair …
Halifax – His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton returns to its home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia today after a successful six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea. In January 2023, HMCS Fredericton departed Halifax to deploy under Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. As the maritime component of Op REASSURANCE, HMCS Fredericton was assigned to operate as …
Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced the appointment of Laird Hindle as Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia. This is Canada’s first ambassadorial appointment to Estonia and is part of the expansion of Canada’s diplomatic presence in Central and Eastern Europe. As announced by Minister Joly last year, Canada has converted its office in Estonia—formerly under the …
Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded a productive visit to Vilnius, Lithuania alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 2023 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. At the summit, Minister Joly underscored Canada’s steadfast support for Nato and Euro-Atlantic security as well as the country’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening the transatlantic bond and …
Latvia – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau along with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš toured military exercises outside the capital as part of Operation Reassurance. He said: “As Russia continues its unwarranted and unjustifiable attacks on Ukraine, Canada is standing united with our European allies in supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, as well …
Ottawa – The ships’ companies of His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Shawinigan and Summerside depart their homeport of Halifax, N.S., to join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) on Operation REASSURANCE. The contribution of two Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) to SNMCMG1 demonstrates Canada’s ongoing commitment to NATO’s high readiness continuous at-sea presence, and the Royal Canadian Navy’s leadership on the …
