The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+), where he delivered remarks as a guest of the chair and participated in the group's 10th anniversary ceremony, hosted virtually by Vietnam, the current Chair of ASEAN.
In his remarks, Minister Sajjan highlighted Canada's contributions to maritime security, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and military training in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada's defence policy, acknowledges the importance of the region to Canada's security and prosperity. Minister Sajjan also emphasized Canada's commitment across the Indo-Pacific region. Canada recently announced a contribution of $8.5 million to support ASEAN and its Member States in integrating Women, Peace and Security considerations into regional and national policies.
Minister Sajjan emphasized the important role that ASEAN holds in upholding the rules-based international system and its central role in preserving Indo-Pacific stability, notably the significance of dialogue and cooperation. ASEAN has advanced regional peace and stability by promoting the rule of law, along with economic, social and cultural development. As a Dialogue Partner, Canada has worked with ASEAN for more than four decades as it continues to advance the interests of its members. Minister Sajjan also reiterated Canada's desire to join the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus.
Canada congratulates ADMM+ on its success in strengthening cooperation and building defence capacity among its members over the last ten years. Canada will continue to support ASEAN by strengthening our engagement and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and looks forward to ever closer engagement with ASEAN Defence Ministers.
Quotes
"This year, it's a distinct honour to address ADMM+ as a guest of the chair. Canada has accomplished a great deal with ASEAN and its Member States through 40 years of meaningful cooperation. As Pacific nations, there is so much that unites us - from supporting the rules-based international system, to multilateralism and cooperation. I believe we can achieve even more by working together. Canada looks forward to working more closely with ASEAN as a reliable, consistent and sustainable partner to help strengthen cooperation across the Indo-Pacific."
Minister of National Defence, Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Quick facts
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The Indo-Pacific has a growing role in the global economy and politics. Events in the region are of critical importance to a broad range of Canadian goals, including peace and prosperity, and inclusive and sustainable development.
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Canada is committed to playing a key role in the Indo-Pacific. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) participates in several military engagements to maintain a strong and persistent presence throughout the region and strengthen defence relationships with key regional partners.
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Canada has also increased its defence diplomatic footprint. In 2020, it established new resident defence attaché positions in Vietnam and Malaysia.
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Canada has collaborated with partners in the region for decades through training and capacity building programs. A dozen nations in the Indo-Pacific region are currently participating in Canada's Military Training Cooperation Programme. To date, more than 3,500 military personnel from the region have received language, peace support operations and military professional development training under the auspices of this programme.
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Canada has supported the training of hundreds of security officers in ASEAN Member States through the Government's Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Programme, Anti-Crime Capacity Buildings Program, and Global Partnership Program against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
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Canada's commitment to the region is growing. In the last three years, it has increased the frequency of Royal Canadian Navy deployments, expanded the capacity of its regional training programme, and strengthened communication and co-ordination by establishing more policy and staff talks.
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Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Winnipeg and a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora aircraft recently completed a deployment under Operation NEON in supporting the monitoring of UNSC sanctions against North Korea. The Canadian Armed Forces deploys a Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate with embarked maritime helicopter detachment, and a RCAF CP-140 Aurora with crew and supporting personnel on a rotational basis. This is the fifth time the CAF has deployed personnel to counter proliferation and support peace and security on the Korean peninsula since the initiative was established in 2018.
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The Royal Canadian Navy works with several ASEAN and ADMM+ Member States frequently, including most recently during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) in August 2020.
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The CAF operates in maritime environments around the world during Operation PROJECTION, demonstrating Canada's ongoing commitment to global peace. HMCS Winnipeg transitioned to Operation PROJECTION Asia-Pacific following their participation in RIMPAC 2020.
