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Operation Nanook 2010 was the 2010 annual joint exercise of Canada's Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard to train for disaster and sovereignty patrols in the Arctic. Similar exercises were held in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The operation ran from August 6, 2010 to August 26, 2010. Members of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve took part in ground exercises in conjunction with Canadian Rangers. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper traveled to the Arctic. Unlike previous exercises, foreign services participated.
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Participating forces
The Royal Danish Navy sent HDMS Vædderen and HDMS Knud Rasmussen. Vædderen is a frigate-sized Thetis-class ocean patrol vessels, launched in 1996. Knud Rasmussen was commissioned in 2008, the lead ship of a class specifically designed to patrol Baffin Bay.
The United States sent USS Porter and USCGC Alder. USS Porter is a United States Navy guided missile destroyer commissioned in 1999. USCGC Alder is a United States Coast Guard buoy tender homeported in Duluth, Minnesota, on the Great Lakes.
Canada sent HMCS Montréal, HMCS Goose Bay, HMCS Glace Bay, and CCGS Henry Larsen. Montréal is a Halifax-class frigate, commissioned in 1993. Goose Bay and Glace Bay are Kingston-class coastal defence vessels, commissioned in 1996 and 1998. Henry Larsen was the only icebreaker among the vessels.
Commentary
The Russian newspaper Pravda described the exercise as "saber rattling".