Operation Reassurance (OpRe) is an initiative of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) which dates from 2014, when NATO partners "agreed upon and began to enact a series of military measures on 16 April 2014",[1] in response to the February 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The initial financial commitment was agreed to at a meeting of the Harper Cabinet the next day.[1][2] As of 25 March 2022 it funds the deployment of approximately 1,375 CAF members.[1]

History

In January 2016, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) of the 2nd Canadian Division was sent to eastern Europe.[3]

Under Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan on 22 August 2016 soldiers from the 3rd Canadian Division departed for OpRe on "as part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to Eastern Europe". They were to replace 5 CMBG.[3]

Latvia, the site of the Canadian-led NATO battlegroup, in its region

In 2017, 540 members of the CAF were deployed to a base near Riga, Latvia, to establish a NATO battlegroup,[4] whose certification exercise was conducted in August of that year.[5] The NATO battlegroup in Latvia was part of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence. The Latvian deployment is the largest deployment of Canadian troops in Europe and was renewed in 2018 for another four years to March 2023.[4]

From June to December 2019 Commodore Josée Kurtz commanded Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) under OpRe.[6] SNMG2 is tasked with patrol of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea.[7]

From July to December 2020 HMCS Toronto was deployed to Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) under OpRe.[6]

On 18 January 2021 Commodore Bradley Peats assumed command of SNMG1 aboard HMCS Halifax as part of OpRe.[6][8]

Between July and December 2021 HMCS Fredericton was deployed in the NATO Maritime Command. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) commitment, of approximately 240 sailors, was then taken over by HMCS Montréal.[4]

On 22 February 2022 Justin Trudeau announced the deployment of 460 additional troops to Latvia under the OpRe initiative.[4]

As of February 2022 eight different RCN ships over 15 deployments had contributed to OpRe.[4]

On 9 March 2022 Trudeau joined NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins in Oviedo, Asturias, to announce the early renewal of the OpRe Latvian troop commitment. Spain would send 150 troops to Latvia.[9] The size of the Canadian-led battlegroup numbered in February 2022 around 1,400 troops and included soldiers from Spain, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro.[4]

On 19 March 2022 HMCS Halifax departed for Europe to join with SNMG1.[1]

As of 25 March 2022 OpRe accounted for[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Operation REASSURANCE". Government of Canada. 2022-03-25.
  2. ↑ "March 2020 - Operation REASSURANCE (Europe)". Government of Canada. 2021-09-30.
  3. 1 2 "Troops from 1 CMBG deploy on Operation Reassurance to Eastern Europe". Canadian Military Family Magazine. 24 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Operation REASSURANCE: Canada's NATO mission explained". BellMedia. CTV News. 22 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "NATO battlegroups in Baltic nations and Poland fully operational". NATO. 28 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "Canada assumes command of Standing NATO Maritime Group One". Government of Canada. 18 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "CANADA HANDS COMMAND OF STANDING NATO MARITIME GROUP TWO TO ITALY". NATO Maritime Command. 16 December 2019.
  8. ↑ "ALLIED MARITIME COMMAND BIOGRAPHY COMMODORE BRADLEY PEATS, MSM, CD" (PDF). NATO Maritime Command. n.d.
  9. ↑ "NATO to reinforce, extend mission in Latvia". Anadolu Agency. 9 March 2022.
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