A Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship and a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cutter sailed together through the Bering Sea in August 2025 in a demonstration of the close working partnership between North American allies in defense of the Arctic. “The sail demonstrated the combined resolve of both nations to deter, and if necessary, defeat adversaries who threaten the Homelands in the Arctic,” stated a news release by the Alaskan Command, a joint subordinate command of U.S. Northern Command, which coordinated the exercise with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Starting on August 25, the RCN ship Regina and USCG cutter Waesche patrolled the High North for a week. The ships conducted joint maritime maneuvers, including live-fire exercises, crew exchanges and additional training to integrate the forces and share tactics, techniques and procedures. Operation Latitude helped increase interoperability between the CAF and the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Operation Latitude is a CAF operation focused on increasing domain awareness in the Western Arctic and its approaches,” the release stated.
Operation Latitude is one of several CAF-led operations during mid-2025, most of which focus on defending Canada’s extensive maritime and far-flung Indigenous communities in the Arctic. In the western Arctic, HMCS Regina, a Halifax-class frigate, was joined by the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and offshore patrol vessel Max Bernays, both of which are based in Esquimalt, British Columbia, to enhance the CAF’s domain awareness in the region. The MV Asterix, a Canadian commercial container ship, joined the RCN vessels on their patrols, according to a news release from the Canadian Department of National Defence. The Royal Canadian Air Force deployed CP-150 Aurora and CC-150 Polaris tanker aircraft to accompany the naval forces.
The Waesche, commissioned in 2010, is the second Legend-class national security cutter in the service. Based in Alameda, California, the Waesche is 127 meters long and 16.5 meters wide with a 4,600 long-ton displacement. The cutter has a top speed of more than 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles and can hold a crew of up to 170. The ship is outfitted with advanced technologies designed to aid in international support and security missions. “Through working with regional Allies and partners U.S. Northern Command is dedicated to ensuring the defense of North America in the High North,” the Alaskan Command news release stated.
Canada’s naval, air and land deployments throughout the Arctic and adjoining maritime regions reflect the country’s goals of strengthening Arctic security. The Harry DeWolf-class HMCS William Hall departed Halifax on August 10 sailing the Northwest Passage as part of Operation Nanook-Tuugaalik until early October to increase force presence in the strategic waterway that links Canada and the U.S. In the Northern Arctic, specifically around Baffin Island, the RCN is collaborating with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) on Operation Nanook-Nunakput, until mid-September. In that region, HMCS William Hall will coordinate operations with CCG cutter Pierre Radisson to improve reconnaissance. “This joint effort, which also involves the Canadian Army, Canadian Rangers, and Royal Canadian Air Force assets, underscores the CAF’s integrated approach to Arctic security. The operation aims to provide rapid response capabilities and improve domain awareness, ensuring Canada can address potential threats or incidents in the region effectively,” according to ReadyAyeReady.com, a Canadian naval affairs website.
The Canadian government has announced plans to integrate the CCG into the Department of National Defence to create a unified force for naval presence in the Far North, part of “Our North, Strong and Free,” Canada’s 2024 defense strategy. “The Arctic is increasingly a focal point for great power competition, with nations like Russia and China showing growing interest in the region’s resources and shipping routes. Posts on X have highlighted concerns about Canada’s Arctic defenses, noting the region as a potential ‘undefended backdoor’ due to limited military presence compared to adversaries like Russia. However, the CAF’s current deployments demonstrate a proactive response to these challenges,” the website reported.
“Asserting sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic is becoming ever more important as our adversaries increase their activity in the region,” said Canadian Minister of National Defence David McGuinty, according to the website.