Sentry Staff
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), supported by the Royal Danish Navy, the United States Navy 2nd Fleet and U.S. Coast Guard, successfully completed Operation Nanook 2024 in August.
The annual exercise, the largest of its kind in the Arctic, highlighted the ability of multinational forces to interoperate effectively in the challenging northern environment. Troops engaged in complex maritime operations, including interdiction operations, gunnery exercises, search and rescue simulations, and fleet maneuver drills in the frigid waters near Nuuk, Greenland.
Established in 2007, Operation NANOOK includes exercises in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Labrador to strengthen Canada’s defense and secure its northern regions.
“Training in the North is particularly crucial as it increases our understanding of the unique operational and sustainment challenges experienced in the Arctic. By seizing every opportunity to train in this environment, we also further solidify our partnership among NATO allies while ensuring our readiness for future operations” Royal Canadian Rear Adm. David Patchell, vice commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, said in a news release. “The importance of interoperability and shared experiences between NATO countries cannot be overstated. Through regular joint exercises in the Atlantic and Arctic regions, we continuously enhance our capabilities and strengthen our bond.”
Operation Nanook “demonstrated the strength of our collaboration and our shared commitment to maintaining stability in these strategic waters,” said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet. “The challenges posed by the Arctic environment require us to be adaptable and resilient. This year’s exercise has shown that our combined forces are more than capable of meeting those challenges head-on.”
Participating units included the Royal Canadian Navy’s Harry DeWolf-Class Offshore Patrol Vessels HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Harry DeWolf; the Royal Danish Navy’s Knud Rasmussen-Class Patrol Vessel HDMS Lauge Koch; the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Northland and the U.S. Navy’s USS Delbert D. Black.
“This exercise is a testament to the strength and unity of our alliances,” Perry said. “Each year, Op Nanook brings our nations closer together, enhancing our ability to operate effectively in the Arctic and ensuring that we are prepared for any contingency.”
U.S. 2nd Fleet develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic to ensure access, deter aggression and defend the U.S. and its Allies and Partners in the region. As the Arctic continues to gain strategic importance, the U.S. and its Allies and Partners acknowledge security challenges brought to the region by climate change and shifting global alliances. In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense released its updated Arctic Strategy that calls for increased domain awareness and interoperability with partners.
“The Arctic region of the United States is critical to the defense of our homeland, the protection of U.S. national sovereignty and the preservation of our defense treaty commitments,” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said during a briefing at the Pentagon in July 2024. “Our Arctic strategy will guide the department’s efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region.”