Topic: Canada considering international bases: MacKay

[R031button]

From the CBC today

Canada considering international bases: MacKay

By Laura Payton, CBC News

Canada is looking at setting up bases around the world to better position the military to participate in international missions, Defence Minister Peter MacKay confirmed Thursday.

The Canadian Forces does "prudent planning," MacKay told reporters, taking into account the ability to participate in international missions.

"As we look out into the future what we obviously try to do is anticipate where and when we will be needed, but it's difficult with any certainty to make those plans, without talking to other countries, without doing internal examinations," he said.

"The focus of the planning, let's be clear, is our capability for expeditionary participation in international missions.... We are big players in NATO. We're a country that has become a go-to nation in response to situations like what we're seeing in Libya, what we saw in Haiti...

"We are constantly working within that paradigm of countries, to see where we can bring that niche capability to bear. It's part of planning and preparation, in conjunction with our equipment needs."

A report in Montreal newspaper Le Devoir said the Canadian Forces is negotiating to set up bases under a program known as the Operational Support Hubs Network. They've reportedly already completed negotiations with Germany and Jamaica, and are in talks with Kuwait, Senegal, Kenya or Tanzania, Singapore and South Korea.

Canada did have a base in the United Arab Emirates, known as Camp Mirage, to ease access to Afghanistan, but was kicked out after a dispute over commercial landing rights in Canada.

The Canadian Forces had to scramble to set up an alternative base in Cyprus.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/06/02/pol-military-bases.html

I'll take a posting to Jamaica...

[Infanteer]

Here is a useful international base:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/HMS_Bulwark.jpg

[helpup]

Heck we are still waiting for our Roll on Roll off ships

[helpup]

I can see the need for foreign bases but I do not see it happening any time soon, unless it is another "temp" one in the UAE

[dapaterson]

"Operational Support Hub" suggests pre-positioned stores and equipment, not a NATO HR brigade - probaly a handful of Canadian staff, and locals to do much of the work.

So this is not a return to CFE but any stretch of the imagination.

[R031button]

Agreed, an network airstrips and ports located close to a potential area of operations. Small staff and potentially a small security detachment, capable of pushing out equipment and otherwise supporting Ops.

[helpup]

Agreed I don't see it being more then a corner of a Airbase somewhere that has LO's and some staff.  I don't even see major  deployment of equipment unless needed.  But I still don't see it happening any time soon.

[Dimsum]

Germany, Singapore or SK for me please.  Thanks.   

[HavokFour]

Wouldn't it be easier to ask the US to share a few of their overseas bases?

[dapaterson]

Wouldn't it be easier to ask the US to share a few of their overseas bases?

Even if we rent a shed on a US base, we still require status-of-forces and other agreements with the country that US base is in.

[R031button]

And they can say no.

[Kirkhill]

Stop me if you have heard this one.....Floating warehouses......

Flat top built to civvy standards and parked at a "friendly" dock (A Shearwater type location).   In the event of crisis they can move closer to the crisis.   In the event the "friendly" dock becomes "unfriendly" they can get out of Dodge.

[jollyjacktar]

Here is a useful international base:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/HMS_Bulwark.jpg

Now you're talking.   

[medicineman]

Doesn't that go back to that " I think we should have Marines" petition though?

MM

[CDN Aviator]

Doesn't that go back to that " I think we should have Marines" petition though?

MM

I dont know about that, with the threat of a US invasion of Canada, who needs international bases ?

[medicineman]

We could preposition things in the US and counterstrike from the rear?  Or would that be more like a Trojan Rabbit a la Search for the Holy Grail?

MM

[Journeyman]

Or would that be more like a Trojan Rabbit Beaver a la Search for the Holy Grail?

 

[MCG]

Would this be any different than the NAMSA stuff that we had in Italy until recently?

[helpup]

Doesn't that go back to that " I think we should have Marines" petition though?

MM

 

But along the lines of flat tops.............. Dirgables are the way of the future.  But what would we call those who deployed from them.  "Aeromarines"   Lets start a petition for half of what we need.  75 000 Aereomarines. 

[GAP]

I dont know about that, with the threat of a US invasion of Canada, who needs international bases ?

Pfft....all we need is a base in the US.....that'll confuse them......

[captloadie]

The Hub idea has been around for 5 years now, with work being done on and off as there were staff officers available to do it. Many of the locations would actually have no personnel, just space and services contracted that we could call up/move in to when required.

At least that was the plan 2 years ago. 

[helpup]

I dont have time to cut and paste it but there was a follow on article where DND clarified the orriginal story.  We are not looking for new base but as some on here hinted at.  We are looking for agreements with other governments on use of facilities in thier country.  The proper name for it escapes me.

I still think we need Blimps

[Technoviking]

You all have it wrong.  This is what we need:

[helpup]

You all have it wrong.  This is what we need:

hmm, well it is not SHIELD's Command Carrier,  I don't think it is Bond's SPECTRE, Is it the Black Spectre's airship?

I wonder how many Aereonaughts and Aeromarines will it hold?   

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Of course not: It's SPECTRUM's base- saving us from the Mysterons.

Can we all get Captain Scarlet's powers so we too can continually come back from the dead to fight another day?

All joking aside, the bases do exist: They are called Amphibious Assault Ships. Many types and sizes are available in any colour you want ... as long as its grey.