For the first time in eight years, Canadian warships are not involved in either of two NATO naval task forces charged with patrolling European waters.
Canada had been a consistent presence in the naval groups since 2014, deploying at least one Halifax-class frigate to protect and defend the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The federal Liberal government made a point of deploying a second of the warships earlier this year as part of its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
But Defence Department spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande says Canada does not have any frigates attached to either of the naval groups after HMCS Montreal and Halifax returned last month….