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NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System
  • In 2011, the Canadian Government withdrew from North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) program after the Department of National Defence's Strategic Review in 2010.
  • The official reason for Canada's withdrawal was to save millions each year but there remains speculation about the decision being about lack of proper/equitable recognition by NATO allies.
  • However, Canada re-joined this program in 2018 in an effort to promote the safety and security of Canadians and their rights and freedoms, along with efforts to maintain international peace and security commitments with the NATO.
Citation

Canada. National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces. Canada rejoins NATO Airborne Warning and Control System program. [Brussels, Belgium], 2018. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/02/canada_rejoins_natoairbornewarningandcontrolsystemprogram.html

Further Readings

For more information on Canada's history with NATO's Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS): https://natoassociation.ca/canadas-relationship-to-nato-airborne-warning-and-control-systems-awacs/

Overlapping Topics
Military, Defence, and Peacekeeping
Policy Type
News Release