Chief of the Defence Staff participates in NATO Military Committee meeting

The Chief of the Defence staff, General Tom Lawson, along with his North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) counterparts, have concluded the NATO Military Committee conference in Brussels, Belgium. The two-day conference provided the Chiefs of Defence of NATO and its partners with the valuable opportunity to share information and discuss matters of mutual interest. 

During the conference, General Lawson discussed Canada’s longstanding commitment to NATO and the importance of the transatlantic relationship, the situation in Ukraine, and Canada’s contribution to NATO reassurance measures. Discussions also focused on the importance of ensuring that NATO continues to be agile and responsive into the future through such means as the Connected Forces Initiative. This is designed to ensure Alliance interoperability and connectivity, built around advances made during recent NATO operations such as Afghanistan and Libya. 

• The NATO Military Committee plays a critical role in building on lessons learned from the Alliance’s missions and helps to ensure that Allied forces remain interoperable, modern, and capable of responding whenever the Alliance may need to call upon them. 
• As a founding, active, and committed member of NATO, Canada stands together with its NATO Allies in implementing a number of reassurance measures to promote security and stability in Eastern and Central Europe, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing aggression and provocation against Ukraine. 
• Twenty operational planning staff have already deployed to augment Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe staff in Casteau, Belgium. Canada has also sent six CF-18 fighter aircraft to Romania; and committed HMCS Regina to NATO Standing Maritime Forces. 
• Recently, Canada deployed 50 soldiers to Central Europe for exercise ORZEL ALERT to conduct training in airborne operations and infantry skills alongside our Allies in a US-led exercise with a view to enhancing interoperability and readiness. The exercise was one of several training activities that will take place between now and December 2014 in support of NATO reassurance measures. 
• Following this NATO Military Committee meeting, NATO Defence Ministers will meet next month in Brussels, Belgium. 

 “This was an important meeting, held at a critical juncture. It provided us with the opportunity to meet with our closest Allies and to discuss issues affecting our collective defence, such as the situation in Central and Eastern Europe. Canadians can be proud of the work that their Canadian Armed Forces members are doing in response to this situation. This meeting also enabled us to continue our work to ensure that the Alliance remains capable and responsive into the future,” said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff.