愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Canada to send 1,000 troops for largest NATO exercise in 36 years

Share

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are set to participate in the largest NATO exercise in decades later this month.

will run from late January to late May and involve more than 90,000 personnel, including 1,000 Canadian troops.

The drills will simulate a hypothetical scenario where Article 5 is triggered. Article 5 is the section in the NATO treaty that can be invoked when one NATO ally is the victim of an armed attack, requiring all other alliance members to provide military assistance.

The exercise is set to take place in several countries in Europe and involve more than 50 naval ships, 150 tanks, 500 infantry fighting vehicles and 400 armoured personnel carriers, .

Canadian military assets expected to participate in this exercise include the patrol frigate HMCS Charlottetown, which will depart from Halifax for Europe later this month, as well as the Canadian-led NATO battlegroup in Latvia and the Leopard 2 tank squadron. Canadian troops are set to be deployed to Latvia, Estonia and Norway.

In the second part of this exercise, Canada will deploy more than 100 military vehicles to Latvia, as well as CH-146 Griffon helicopters and CH-147 Chinooks.

While NATO and Canadian officials didn't mention Russia by name, these exercises are set to take place in the backdrop of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The last time NATO held an exercise as large as Steadfast Defender 2024 was back in 1988, when the Cold War was still ongoing.

"The deployment of CAF personnel and assets alongside NATO and Allied forces in Alliance territory serves as a powerful and unmistakable message of deterrence to potential adversaries and reassurance to Allies," Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre said in a press release on Wednesday.

"This collective display of strength and readiness reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the security and stability of the region, sending a clear signal that any threat to our shared values and interests will be met with a unified and resolute response."

Meanwhile, Russia condemned the plans and said the scale of these exercises "marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes."

Although Sweden is not yet a member of NATO, the Scandinavian country will also take part in the drills. On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an ratified Sweden's application for NATO membership, clearing a major huddle in joining the alliance.

With files from Reuters

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING Interest rate drops to 3.75% as Bank of Canada makes another cut

The Bank of Canada made a sizable cut to its key lending rate Wednesday from 4.25 per cent to 3.75 per cent as the global economy continues to expand. The half percentage point cut is the fourth rate cut in a row by the central bank as inflation dropped from 2.7 per cent in June to 1.6 per cent in September.

A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

Local Spotlight

A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

Stay Connected