**** DND Media Release
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Kingston and Summerside depart for Operation REASSURANCE
Today, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Kingston and Summerside departed for a four month deployment in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic region on Operation REASSURANCE. Canada is deploying two Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels to contribute to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.
Between July and October 2022, HMCS Kingston and Summerside will join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One. During Operation REASSURANCE, the ships will participate in NATO’s high readiness continuous at sea presence, which can quickly and effectively respond in support of any NATO operations.
HMCS Halifax and Montreal are currently on station as part of Operation REASSURANCE, and will return to Canada in July. The commitment to send two further vessels, this time to contribute to the mine countermeasures group efforts, demonstrates Canada’s continued commitment to NATO.
This will be the first deployment on Operation REASSURANCE for both ships. HMCS Summerside will deploy with an embarked Royal Canadian Navy clearance diving team, supported by mine countermeasure search capabilities using autonomous underwater vehicles aboard HMCS Kingston.
Quick Facts
- Sending Royal Canadian Navy ships in support of NATO objectives provides Canada with the flexibility to execute a range of exercises and operations in real training environments with our internationals Allies. This helps support the international effort in the Baltic region, including surveillance, monitoring, and diplomatic engagement
- NATO is a cornerstone of Canada’s international security policy. Under Operation REASSURANCE, in support of NATO assurance and deterrence measures, the Canadian Armed Forces is maintaining a presence in European waters on a persistent rotational basis since 2014
- Canadian Armed Forces members are proud and honored to serve on Operation REASSURANCE. Their contribution further increases the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to collaborate with other NATO nations by building on the achievements of previous rotations and continuing to develop their own capabilities in working with our Allies to enhance NATO readiness.
