Esquimalt, British Columbia : Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, welcomed home the companies of His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Vancouver and Winnipeg on Monday as they returned to their homeport of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, after successfully completing their deployments on Operation (Op) PROJECTION and Op NEON.
Since sailing to the Indo-Pacific region in early August, the Halifax-class frigates have carried out an ambitious schedule, which included port calls to eight countries, including HMCS Winnipeg’s port call to Cambodia – a first for a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship – thereby strengthening Canada’s relationships abroad. Port visits also took place in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand.
HMCS Vancouver, along with a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 long-range patrol aircraft, also deployed on Op NEON, Canada’s contribution to multinational efforts to monitor sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council.
The presence of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in the Indo-Pacific region demonstrates Canada’s ongoing commitment to enhancing military interoperability, cooperation, and relationships with our allies and partners, consistent with our objective to increase Canada’s contribution to stability and security in the region.
On this deployment, the ships conducted 38 replenishments at sea with multiple partner nations, including a first-time replenishment at sea with a Japanese Izumo-class helicopter carrier. This Japanese carrier resupplied HMCS Winnipeg, and His Majesty’s New Zealand Ship Aotearoa resupplied HMCS Vancouver. Further, RCN ships participated in seven international exercises, including the signature binational exercise with Japan, KAEDEX (derived from “kaede,” meaning “maple” in Japanese). As well, for the first time, Canada had two frigates and a CP-140 aircraft participating in Exercise KEEN SWORD, which this year included approximately 36,000 military personnel.
During her visit to British Columbia, Minister Anand highlighted Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy, which lays out Canada’s whole-of-Government approach to the region. Minister Anand reiterated that this strategy invests over $490 million to reinforce Canada’s defence presence in the region, including by deploying a third frigate annually to the Indo-Pacific Region. This Strategy will strengthen Canada’s defence partnerships in the region in support of international peace and stability.
“The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing economic region in the world, and virtually every single security issue in the future will run through this region. For the past six months, our sailors and aviators have worked hard to deepen our defence cooperation with our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific. I thank these Canadian Armed Forces members for their service and dedication to Canada, and for being ambassadors of Canada’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Wherever I go, our allies and partners say that they want to see more of Canada – and through Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, that is exactly what we will deliver.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
“These operations are some of the Canadian Armed Forces’ most critical endeavours abroad. The Indo-Pacific region represents incredible challenges and opportunities both for the peace and prosperity of the globe. The CAF is committed to taking an active role alongside our friends and partners. Our sizable contribution highlights the enduring commitment of the CAF to ensure that the rules-based international order is respected.
Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
- HMCS Winnipeg, focused on Southeast Asia from August 8th until December 5th, spent 118 days deployed on Op PROJECTION.
- HMCS Vancouver, focused on Northeast Asia, completed 89 days deployed on Op PROJECTION, and 32 days on Op NEON, from August 8th until December 5th.
- Both RCN warships will have each transited over 37,000 nautical miles (68,524 km) by the time they return home.
- The CP-140 Air Detachment based out of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, from October 8th to November 5th, flew over 100 hours in support of Op NEON.
- Each RCN frigate has a crew of approximately 230 personnel, comprising RCN sailors and a RCAF detachment to fly and support the ship’s embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter.
- The CP-140 Aurora was supported by an Air Detachment of approximately 40 personnel.
- During Op PROJECTION, the CAF conducts training and exercises, and engagements with foreign navies and other international security partners, contributing to making the world a safer place. This was the eighth Op PROJECTION deployment to the Indo-Pacific since 2018.
- Op NEON is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational initiative to support the monitoring of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. Since 2019, the CAF has frequently deployed ships, aircraft, and personnel to conduct surveillance on North Korean maritime sanctions evasion activities.
- On November 27, the Government launched Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which among its objectives, seeks to promote peace, resilience, and security in the region through the reinforcement of Canada’s Indo-Pacific naval presence, and by increasing CAF participation in regional military exercises.
- The Strategy allocates $492.9 million to the Department of National Defence and theCAF over five years to enable Canada’s Enhanced Defence Presence and Contribution.
