Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, announced that the Government of Canada has extended Operation PRESENCE (Op PRESENCE) until March 31, 2026.
Through Operation PRESENCE, the Canadian Armed Forces provide high-value military capabilities to United Nations peacekeeping missions. This operation is part of Canada's United Nations (UN) peace operations strategy.
The Canadian Armed Forces' ongoing contributions to the United Nations under Operation PRESENCE include:
- The deployment of Canadian Armed Forces military personnel to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali;
- The deployment of Canadian Armed Forces personnel to Training Development Assessment Teams (TDAT), which provide technical assistance and training support to our peacekeeping partners;
- A Tactical Airlift Detachment, which is periodically deployed under Op PRESENCE to assist with the transportation of personnel and equipment to the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); and
- Canadian Armed Forces training support under the Elsie initiative, which is an international initiative to help increase meaningful participation of uniformed women in UN peace operations.
Canada has always been a strong supporter of United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world.
The extension of Op PRESENCE to March 31, 2026 demonstrates Canada's continued contribution to global peace and security, as well as support to UN peacekeeping, for years to come.
