CANADA JOINS QUAD JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE IN PACIFIC OCEAN

TORONTO: For the first time, Canada is participating in a joint exercise in the Pacific Ocean with the nations that comprise the Quad: the US, India, Japan and Australia.

The fortnight-long anti-submarine warfare exercise Sea Dragon 2021 is being organised by the United States as its Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, an American territory. The participants are the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Japan Maritime Selfdefence Force.

In response to queries from the Hindustan Times, David Lavallee, public affairs officer with Canadian Armed Forces’ 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region Headquarters, said, “Canada is also a Pacific nation. The RCAF often works closely with the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet, and our participation in Sea Dragon is an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and durability of our alliances in the Indo-pacific region.”

He also said the RCAF’S participation “enables substantial training opportunities for the Long Range Patrol community working with allies and partners in the Pacific, including Australia, India, Japan and the United States.”

New Delhi is looking at this development as a “significant step forward” by Canada. Diplomatic sources said the RCAF’S participation appeared to be a “political nod to the Quad, Quad Plus without saying it is joining the Quad”.

The name of the exercise itself indicate rising concern over China. This is the first time in several years that Canada has joined an exercise with India as a participant.