Canada Launches Largest Arctic Military Exercise with NATO Allies
From February 23 to March 9, the Canadian Armed Forces are conducting Operation NANOOK-NUNALIVUT in the Arctic, enhancing security and cooperation with allies.
Photo: wikipedia, CC BY 2.0
On February 23, 2025, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) launched a military exercise in the Arctic called NANOOK-NUNALIVUT, according to information published on the Canadian government’s website.
The operation will run until March 9 and will cover the area near the town of Inuvik and the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories.
More than 450 Canadian military personnel and approximately 110 representatives from the armed forces of the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are participating in the maneuvers.
The exercises aim to strengthen Canada's sovereignty in the region, practice combat tasks in extreme climate conditions, and improve coordination with international partners.
During the operation, the military will conduct joint defense scenarios, under-ice diving exercises, transportation operations, and security drills in Arctic conditions.
The operation is part of the annual NANOOK program, which reinforces Canada's presence in the North and its ability to respond to potential threats.
The exercises demonstrate Ottawa's commitment to its Arctic strategy and to strengthening continental security.
According to Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, the participation of allies in the exercises underscores the importance of joint actions amid growing international interest in the Arctic.
Earlier reports indicated that in mid-September, Belarus and Russia will hold joint military exercises "Zapad-2025," with Belarus considering the possibility of inviting OSCE observers.
It was also reported that in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz, the first joint NATO-Ukraine center – JATEC – has been opened, focusing on military threat analysis and adapting the Ukrainian Armed Forces to NATO standards.