Canada sends 125 soldiers to Eastern and Central Europe to support NATO reassurance operations

Defence & Security News - Canada
 
Canada sends 125 soldiers in Europe to support NATO reassurance operations
Canadian government stated that Canada would send 125 Canadian Army soldiers to Eastern and Central Europe to support NATO reassurance operations. Canada is sending today, March 2nd, some 125 Canadian Army soldiers to Eastern and Central Europe to support NATO reassurance measures, a statement on Canadian government’s website said.
     
Canada sends 125 soldiers to Eastern and central Europe to support NATO reassurance operations 640 001Members of Oscar Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment conduct training with a Polish MI-8 helicopter during Exercise ANAKONDA
     
The 3 RCR contingent is a part of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG), based in Garrison Petawawa, ON. Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities undertaken by the Canadian Armed Forces to support NATO reassurance measures through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks,” the statement reads.

The statement does not specify, to which countries the soldiers will be sent to.


Over the last few months, NATO has boosted its military presence in Eastern Europe in connection with the crisis in eastern Ukraine. The alliance said the move was necessary to ensure its members' security. The North Atlantic Council on 16 April 2014 agreed on a package of extra military measures to reinforce the Alliance’s collective defence in wake of the crisis in Ukraine. The decision sets the basis for more Allied aircraft on patrol over the Baltic region, the deployment of Allied ships to the Baltic Sea and the eastern Mediterranean and NATO Land training and exercises. All deployments are defensive in nature, said NATO in an officiale statement.