It may not be a NATO exercise in name, but the Canadian military’s annual Far North drills have taken on a distinct international flavour with the participation of warships from France, Denmark and the U.S.
Operation Nanook, the Canadian military’s annual northern sovereignty exercise, is taking on a distinct NATO look this year with the participation of three other allies, one of which is not an Arctic nation.
Five warships, a replenishment vessel and U.S. coast guard cutter are slated to take part in the three-week drill, which senior American and Canadian commanders said Monday was designed to test not only their ability to operate together in the harsh environment but also their “basic war-fighting” skills.
Canada is sending the frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec, the coastal defence vessel HMCS Glace Bay and the supply ship MV Asterix.
Joining them will be Danish frigate HDMS Triton, the French coastal defence ship FS Fulmar, the U.S. coast guard cutter Tahoma and the brand-new American guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner.
Canada, Denmark and the U.S. are all Arctic nations, but France is not.
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