Canadian Armed Forces to Join Largest NATO Exercise in Decades

Members of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command conduct pre-mission training for Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 in Petawawa, Ontario, on Jan. 16, 2024. National Defence handout

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is gearing up to participate in NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024—a large-scale trans-Atlantic military exercise slated to be the biggest of its kind in recent decades—with the stated aim of reinforcing the defence of Europe.

“Canada’s participation in Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER sends a strong message about our ability to operate with NATO Allies and our continued contribution to the defence of Europe,” said Defence Minister Bill Blair in a Jan. 24 release.