Coolers tested by the Arctic Response Company Group (ARCG), 2nd Canadian Division (2 Cdn Div), before departure for Resolute Bay during Exercise GUERRIER NORDIQUE in Eureka, Nunavut, 11 March 2026. Photo by: Corporal Sébastien Lauzier-Labarre, Canadian Forces Combat Camera
Why it matters: More than 350 Canadian Armed Forces personnel, including Canadian Rangers, are in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, through September 25 for Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT, the latest push to build a sustained CAF presence across the Arctic Archipelago.
The big picture:
Nunakput is Inuktitut for "our land," and the name reflects the operation's focus: keeping forces in the region long-term rather than running one-off exercises.
The Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Coast Guard, Joint Task Force North and Canadian Rangers are all participating.
This year's serial combines maritime, land and air capabilities to build surveillance, mobility and readiness in the North.
What they're doing:
Surveillance training
Air and land mobility exercises
Movement of heavy equipment
Integrated air, land and maritime activities
Partners on the ground: The operation leans on close coordination with Indigenous communities, the Canadian Coast Guard and the RCMP. Two community events are built into the schedule: a Terry Fox Run on September 4 and a Community Relations Day on September 5, both opportunities for CAF members to connect directly with Resolute Bay residents.
The bigger picture: NUNAKPUT doesn't stand alone. Operation NANOOK runs year-round through multiple serials, including NANOOK-TUUGAALIK, a maritime-focused deployment underway until October involving allied naval forces from the United States, France and Denmark. Canada is also backing NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity ARCTIC SENTRY as part of its broader Arctic commitment as a founding NATO member.
What they're saying:
"Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT reflects the Canadian Armed Forces' enduring commitment to the Arctic and the North," said Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command. He said the operation strengthens the CAF's ability to monitor the Arctic Archipelago, deter threats and defend Canadian sovereignty.
"Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT highlights the strength of the partnerships that enable us to operate successfully in Canada's Arctic," said Brigadier-General Marc Parent, commander of Joint Task Force North. He said the operation is building relationships and readiness across the Archipelago.
Bottom line: NUNAKPUT is another data point in Canada's shift toward a permanent, near-persistent Arctic posture, one built as much on Indigenous partnership and interagency coordination as on hardware.
