Canada to Participate in United States-led Operation PROSPERITY GUARDIAN

Image: February 4, 2017. Lieutenant-Navy François Gaudreault observes the Turkish boarding party boat approaching the target vessel during Exercise CUTLASS EXPRESS on February 4, 2017 in Djibouti, Africa. Credit: Master Corporal Mathieu Gaudreault, Canadian Forces Combat

Canada will participate in Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Op PROSPERITY GUARDIAN, a United States-led operation announced by the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III.

The operation has been stood up to protect the free flow of commerce and safety of navigation into the Red Sea and Western Gulf of Aden, through which one-sixth of the global economic trade passes.

The Red Sea is a crucial artery for the world economy. Anchored by two strategic waterways – the Suez Canal and the Bab-al-Mandeb – impacts to the free flow of commerce have a cascading negative economic impact. The 1958 Convention on the High Seas protects the freedom of navigation on the high seas for all States. Safeguarding this widely-accepted law bolsters the rules-based international order, as Canada is committed to doing. Under this operation, international naval forces will patrol the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden providing assurance to the maritime industry, deterring illegal activity and the threat to safe navigation and international freedoms.

The Canadian Armed Forces are deploying 3 staff officers to support the operation. These CAF members will deploy as early as next week under Op ARTEMIS – the CAF operation in support of peace and security in Middle East waters. As part of Op ARTEMIS, the CAF periodically deploys ships and aircrafts, as well as land-based support, to work with our international partners to help secure the region.

Through its contributions to the Combined Maritime Forces under Op ARTEMIS, Canada seeks to support the rules-based international order and ensure the security of some of the world’s busiest and most vital waterways.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Combined Maritime Forces Operation Prosperity Guardian brings together an international coalition to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (GoA).
• Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain, to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity.
• CMF is the world’s largest multinational maritime partnership, formed to uphold the rules-based international order by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters.
• There are currently five CAF officers in staff positions supporting the various CMF task forces.
• Canada’s contribution to the CMF takes place through Operation ARTEMIS. Through this mission, Canada seeks to support the rules-based international order and ensure the security of one of the world’s busiest and most vital waterways.
• The CAF’s contribution to of military personnel and civilian staff within the CMF demonstrates Canada’s commitment to peace and stability in the region by working alongside Canada’s allies and partners.
• Canada is currently filling the role of deputy commander of CTF-154 which leads multinational maritime training at locations across the Middle East.
• Canada rotates command of CTF-150 (Maritime Security operations outside the Arabian Gulf) with other participating nations, having last commanded from January-July 2021, and will assume command again in January 2024.