U.S. and Canadian Maritime Forces Strengthen Alliance with Atlantic Maritime Security Coalition
30 April 2026
NORFOLK, Va. - U.S. and Canadian maritime leadership from Commander, U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, (LANTAREA), Maritime Forces Atlantic & Joint Task Force Atlantic (RCN MCC and JTF-A COM), and Fleet and Maritime Security Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) convened to advance the Atlantic Maritime Security Coalition (AMSC). The coalition, formerly known as the Tri-Party Staff Talks (TPST), brings together key maritime forces to enhance collaboration and ensure interoperability between U.S. and Canadian forces.
AMSC is an enduring security partnership between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). The recent discussions centered on joint operations, intelligence sharing, and defense strategy, with a primary focus on the growing importance of Arctic operations. The name change to AMSC reflects the fully integrated nature of the four services in this vital security effort with the recent addition of the CCG as a staff talks member.
“Our participation in the Atlantic Maritime Security Coalition reaffirms the ironclad partnership between U.S. and Canadian maritime forces,” said Adm. Doug Perry, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “Together, we are prepared to protect North American interests and address future security challenges in the dynamic environments of the Atlantic and Arctic.”
“AMSC enhances our joint capabilities as we confront emerging challenges, including the protection of vital undersea infrastructure and rising global competition,” said Vice Admiral Jo-Ann F. Burdian, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area. “By training and operating as a cohesive force, we safeguard our shared maritime environment and ensure it remains safe, secure, and open.”
AMSC enhances the U.S. and Canadian joint capabilities to secure their shared maritime environment. Through exercises under the AMSC umbrella, such as Frontier Sentinel and Operation NANOOK, the forces refine joint responses to a wide range of maritime contingencies, from humanitarian assistance to cooperative defense. These exercises test the ability of the commands and tactical assets to work together, identify and solve interoperability challenges, and operate in extreme Arctic conditions.
“The Atlantic Maritime Security Coalition is a partnership of equals, built on mutual trust and respect for sovereignty,” said RAdm Josée Kurtz, Commander, Maritime Forces Atlantic & Joint Task Force Atlantic. “By joining forces, our navies and coast guards enhance their joint capability to secure our shared maritime interests, strengthening the enduring security partnership between Canada and the United States.”
“The Canadian Coast Guard's integration into AMSC reflects our collective commitment to a comprehensive approach to maritime security,” said Mr. Neil O'Rourke, Director General, Fleet and Maritime Services with Canadian Coast Guard. “We are proud to work alongside our U.S. and Canadian Armed Forces partners to ensure the safety and security of the Atlantic and Arctic regions.”
AMSC improves the collective readiness of all four services, ensuring forces are prepared to respond seamlessly to emerging challenges and protect shared interests across the Atlantic.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
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