Today, His Majesty's Canadian Ships (HMCS) Ottawa and Vancouver, along with Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix, returned to Esquimalt, B.C. after a deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Marie-France Lalonde, was at CFB Esquimalt to welcome the ships home from deployment and to thank the sailors and aircrew for their service.
Since departing in early August, the Halifax-class frigates and the naval replenishment unit visited seven countries including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States. All three Royal Canadian Navy ships, and one Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft, also participated in ANNUALEX alongside the Royal Australian Navy, an interoperability exercise co-hosted by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy. HMCS Vancouver and the CP-140 also supported Operation NEON, Canada's contribution to multinational efforts to monitor sanctions placed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council.
This deployment marked a major milestone for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) presence in the Indo-Pacific. 2023 marks the first year that Canada deployed three warships to the Indo-Pacific region, delivering on the commitment that Canada made when it launched its Indo-Pacific Strategy.
As mandated in the Strategy, the CAF has increased its military cooperation with partners and allies, deployed additional assets to increase our military presence, and demonstrated measurable contributions to peace, resilience, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
