Canada will extend Operation Reassurance mission until 2031

ANKARA - Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on Wednesday during the NATO summit in Ankara that Canada will extend the Operation Reassurance mission until 2031, increasing the number of permanently deployed personnel to 2,600.

Through this mission, Canada supports NATO’s deterrence and defense efforts in Central and Eastern Europe. As part of Operation Reassurance, Canada is also participating in the NATO multinational brigade in Latvia.

According to a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, Carney and Rinkevics discussed strengthening the bilateral partnership, including increasing trade, investment, and cooperation in the defense industry. Carney highlighted Canada’s participation in the European Union (EU) Security for Europe (SAFE) initiative, which opens up new opportunities in defense procurement.

They also discussed the Defense, Security, and Resilience Bank and its potential to strengthen allied defense industry production. Carney commended Latvia’s support for this initiative and discussed ways to encourage broader participation.