Government of Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Government of Canada

chile.gc.ca

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Defence Relations

The Ministers signing the MOU in the presence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Sebastián Piñera
 
The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) and Andrés Allamand, Chile's Minister of Defence, signing the MOU in the presence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Sebastián Piñera

The Canadian defence relations section at the Embassy of Canada in Chile promotes bonds and friendship between Canadian and Chilean Defence institutions. Defence activities with Chile have increased substantially over the past several years and an in-country Canadian Defence Attaché presence, since July 2011, has given a new impetus to Canadian defence relations with Chile.

Examples of defence cooperation between Canada and Chile include:

  • Military Training and Cooperation Program —one of Canada’s primary tools of military diplomacy, this program provides English/French language, staff/professional development, and peace support operations training to approximately 1,200 military personnel from more than 62 member states annually. Chile has been a member of the program since 1998; Chile’s participation in this program is on-going and reflects our strong defence ties. For more information on the MTCP: Directorate Military Training & Cooperation
     
  • Chile’s Joint Centre for Peacekeeping Operations—opened in 2002, the CECOPAC is exploring options for increasing training cooperation with Canada.
     
  • Naval Cooperation and Exchanges—since 2008, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Chilean Navy have worked together through several training exercises, operations, and exchanges.  On June 18th the cooperation between our Navies will reach a new level, crystalizing a strategic partnership for years to come, with the imbedding of six young officers into the Chilean Navy. Those officers will learn Spanish and subsequently learn how to operate on the bridge of Chilean Ship.
     
  • Air Force Cooperation and Exchanges—since 2008, the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chilean Air Force have cooperated in areas of training and exchanges, such as; search and rescue, Twin Otter and CF 18/F-16 pilot exchanges.In May 2012, for the first time in the history of the Royal Canadian Air Force, F-18 jets flew south of the Equator to conduct a familiarization exercise in Iquique with Chilean F-16 pilots
     
  • Army Cooperation—in 2011, members of the Canadian Army visited the Chilean Armoured School and laid the groundwork for future Army cooperation between the two countries.
     
  • Defence Policy Talks—held for the first time in April, 2012, these talks were instrumental in development of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation that was endorsed in 2012 between the two governments, during the visit in Chile of the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
      
  • Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation— The Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizes Canadian-Chilean defence cooperation and demonstrates the commitment of both countries to continue to expand our defence relationship. The MOU will set the course for defence relations in the coming years as an element of the broader strategic partnership between Canada and Chile. To note, for Canada, this is the first and unique Defence Cooperation MOU currently in force with a Latin American Country

Under this new Defence Cooperation MOU, Canada and Chile agree to promote cooperation in the following fields:

  1. defence  and security policies;
  2. defence research & development;
  3. defence logistics and procurement;
  4. peace and humanitarian operations;
  5. armed forces and civilian human resources organization;
  6. military education and training; and
  7. any other activities as may be mutually agreed.

Under this framework, there is an intention to further institutionalize defence cooperation with the establishment of several bilateral working groups; procurement, operations, technical, Service-to-Service talks etc. all led by an Executive Defence Policy Steering Group.

We encourage you to visit the suggested websites below to learn more about the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces or simply contact us directly if you require more information on the vibrant Canada-Chile Defence relationship.

Contact Information

Canadian Defence Attaché: Colonel Mark Dussault
Email: Mark.dussault@international.gc.ca

Assistant Canadian Defence Attaché: Sergeant Christine Neville
Email: Christine.neville@international.gc.ca

Footer

Date Modified:
2012-08-07