Duty Calls
Canada significantly increases contribution to Operation ARTEMIS
Paige LeClairOTTAWA, ON — Canada increases contribution to multinational counter-terrorism naval task forces.
Canada has significantly increased its contribution to Operation ARTEMIS, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) ongoing contribution to counter-terrorism and maritime security operations in Middle Eastern and East African waters.
“The Canadian Armed Forces presence in the Middle East helps set the conditions for the long-term success of our regional partners by enabling them to more effectively plan and execute operations,” said Minister of National Defence Harjit S. Sajjan. “Canadians can be proud of the leadership of our women and men in uniform in the fight against terrorism and ensuring that international oceans and waterways remain safe and secure.”
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina, Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix, and a CP-140 Aurora aircraft have joined the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150). CTF 150 is a task force under Combined Maritime Forces, a naval coalition of 33 nations, that promotes security and stability in Middle Eastern and East African waters.
With the addition of the ships and CP-140 Aurora, Operation ARTEMIS is the CAF’s third largest operation, next to Operation IMPACT (Canada’s support to the Global Coalition to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria as well as to NATO Mission Iraq) and Operation REASSURANCE (Canada’s support to NATO in Central and Eastern Europe). Operation ARTEMIS significantly increases the CAF’s footprint in the Middle East and East Africa region.
“Our combined Canadian-Australian CTF 150 welcomes the arrival of HMCS Regina, NRU Asterix, and the Royal Canadian Air Force to our area of operations. Our team is ready to promote stability in the region by deterring and denying terrorist use of the high seas from illicit activity that funds terrorism,” says Commodore Darren Garnier, Commander CTF 150.
Through maritime security operations, regional engagements and capacity building, CTF 150 work to deter and deny terrorist organizations from using the high seas for smuggling weapons, illicit cargo, and narcotics while ensuring the safe passage of merchant ships in some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Once their contribution to Operation ARTEMIS is complete, the ships will return to Operation PROJECTION until summer 2019.
