Operation Reassurance (OpRe) is an initiative of theCanadian Armed Forces (CAF) which dates from 2014, whenNATO partners "agreed upon and began to enact a series of military measures on 16 April 2014",[1] in response to the February 2014annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. The initial financial commitment was agreed to at a meeting of theHarper Cabinet the next day.[1][2] As of 25 March 2022 it funds the deployment of approximately 1,375 CAF members.[1]
In January 2016,5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) of the2nd Canadian Division was sent toeastern Europe.[3]
Under Minister of DefenceHarjit Sajjan on 22 August 2016 soldiers from the3rd Canadian Division departed for OpRe on "as part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to Eastern Europe". They were to replace 5 CMBG.[3]
In 2017, 540 members of the CAF were deployed to a base nearRiga, Latvia, to establish a NATO battlegroup,[4] whose certification exercise was conducted in August of that year.[5] The NATO battlegroup in Latvia was part of theNATO Enhanced Forward Presence. The Latvian deployment is the largest deployment of Canadian troops in Europe and was renewed in 2018 for another four years to March 2023.[4]
From June to December 2019 CommodoreJosée Kurtz commandedStanding NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) under OpRe.[6] SNMG2 is tasked with patrol of theMediterranean Sea andBlack Sea.[7]
From July to December 2020HMCS Toronto was deployed toStanding NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) under OpRe.[6]
On 18 January 2021 Commodore Bradley Peats assumed command of SNMG1 aboardHMCS Halifax as part of OpRe.[6][8]
Between July and December 2021HMCS Fredericton was deployed in theNATO Maritime Command. TheRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) commitment, of approximately 240 sailors, was then taken over byHMCS Montréal.[4]
On 22 February 2022Justin Trudeau announced the deployment of 460 additional troops toLatvia under the OpRe initiative.[4]
As of February 2022 eight different RCN ships over 15 deployments had contributed to OpRe.[4]
On 9 March 2022 Trudeau joined NATO Secretary-GeneralJens Stoltenberg, Spanish Prime MinisterPedro Sánchez and Latvian Prime MinisterArturs Krisjanis Karins inOviedo, Asturias, to announce the early renewal of the OpRe Latvian troop commitment. Spain would send 150 troops to Latvia.[9] The size of the Canadian-led battlegroup numbered in February 2022 around 1,400 troops and included soldiers from Spain, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro.[4]
On 19 March 2022 HMCSHalifax departed for Europe to join with SNMG1.[1]
As of 25 March 2022 OpRe accounted for[1]
On August 26, 2025 Prime Minister Carney approved an extension of this mission into 2029. Canada has 2,200 soldiers deployed to Latvia: 500 to a headquarters in Riga, and 1700 to Camp Adazi. Over 2025 this number will increase to 2,600 soldiers with the additional 400 being based a new location in Latvia.