By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff
As HMCS Toronto continues its Op REASSURANCE deployment in support of NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe, the ship recently began a three-week period involving patrols and exercises in the Black Sea with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) colleagues, as well as a special port visit to Odesa, Ukraine.
Commander (Cdr) Martin Fluet, Toronto's commanding officer, described the visit to Odesa as one of the most significant accomplishments for Toronto on the deployment so far. The ship spent three days alongside in Ukraine, along with the Spanish Navy ship Santa Maria, with a busy schedule of engagement activities.
Thousands of members of the public were welcomed onboard for ship tours, groups of naval cadets were given insight into ship operations, a diplomatic luncheon was held that included the head of the Ukrainian Navy as well as the ambassadors of Canada and Spain, and the ships' commanding officers took part in a large press conference attended by media outlets from around the world.
Cdr Fluet added that the work done alongside was an important extension of the military-level relationship building that's been taking place among allies at sea.
“The visit leveraged great strategic effect and was a valuable opportunity to engage Ukraine both as a partner in Canada's commitment to stability, peace, and freedom of navigation but also as an aspiring member of NATO,” he said, adding that his sailors also…
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