Canada to enhance military presence in Indo-Pacific region

Americas, Asia-Pacific, News June 4, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Canada’s Defense Minister Anita Anand says that her country is committed to enhancing its military posture in the Indo-Pacific region. While speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, Anand said that Canada will deploy additional warships in the region.

Anand announced her country’s plans to boost its naval military presence in the region to highlight Canada’s commitment to the U.S.-led vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. She said that the Canadian military would operate in the region through a newly developed Operation Horizon, a security roadmap that replaces Canada’s existing Operation Projection.

“Canada is a Pacific nation and is deeply committed to promoting a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Through Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, we are doing just that by strengthening our military presence in the region. Through Operation Horizon, our allies and partners will be able to count on a persistent, more fulsome Canadian Armed Forces presence in the Indo-Pacific. We will continue to step up with meaningful defense contributions to the security of this region.” Anita Anand said.

Canada has recently signed a 10 years Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Korea on defense research and development, allowing defense scientists to share information and identify potential future partnerships. The MOU also facilitates collaboration between defense organizations, which may include the exchange of information, scientists, and engineers.

Anand announced that the next Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command in the Republic of Korea will be a Canadian General Officer. The current Chief of the Defense Staff, General Wayne Eyre would be the first non-U.S. General Officer appointed to the position.

The new Canadian deployment in the Indo-Pacific region would allow its frigate HMCS Montreal and support ship MV Asterix to be deployed in the region this summer. Anand said the Canadian ships will sail in the South and East China Sea as well as the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law.

^{HMCS Winnipeg sails past the Greater Victoria shoreline en route to Hawaii with embarked Royal Canadian Air Force CH-148 Cyclone helicopters for the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC) on August 6, 2020. (Image Credit: Dan Bard/Canadian Forces)}

Canada is also a part of Operation Neon in the Indo-Pacific region as well as a regular participant in international exercises such as RIMPAC and collaborates with partners through Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Program.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Air Detachment recently completed a six-week rotation on Operation Neon, flying 130 hours over 16 sorties to conduct surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in November 2022, represents an ambitious framework for increased Canadian engagement across the Indo-Pacific region, particularly challenging China’s increasing role in the region. While announcing Canada’s new deployment plans in the Indo-Pacific region, Anand criticized China, calling it a “disruptive global power that increasingly disregards international rules and norms.”