Ministry of Defence and National Security
Government of the Republic of Newfoundland
Ministry of Defence & National Security
Safeguarding sovereignty, protecting our people, and contributing to North Atlantic and Arctic security and resilience.
Mandate
The Ministry of Defence & National Security is responsible for safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Newfoundland. Our mandate encompasses national defence, maritime security, civil defence support, and emergency response coordination. We work to protect our people, defend our interests, and contribute to stability and security in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
As a maritime North Atlantic republic and founding member of NATO, our defence strategy focuses on maritime domain awareness, coastal and offshore operations, search and rescue capabilities, and strategic partnerships with allied nations. We maintain professional armed forces capable of protecting our territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, and critical infrastructure while supporting civil authorities during emergencies.
Strategic Priorities
- Maintaining sovereignty over territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone
- Enhancing maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities across the North Atlantic and Arctic approaches
- Strengthening search and rescue operations across our maritime domain
- Protecting critical infrastructure and cyber defences
- Building strategic defence partnerships with allied nations and NATO partners
- Supporting civil authorities during emergencies and disasters
- Developing intelligence and threat assessment capabilities
- Ensuring operational readiness of the Newfoundland Armed Forces
Programs & Services
Defence Operations
- Maritime patrol and surveillance operations
- Coastal and offshore security and maritime law enforcement
- Airspace monitoring and support to North Atlantic and Arctic air defence
- Military training and readiness programs
National Security
- Intelligence gathering and threat assessment
- Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection
- Counter-terrorism coordination
- Border and approaches security operations
Emergency Response
- Search and rescue coordination
- Disaster response and civil defence support
- Emergency preparedness planning
- Support to civil authorities
Key Departments
Newfoundland Armed Forces
Newfoundland Coast Guard
National Security Bureau
Civil Defence Coordination
Contact
Ministry of Defence & National Security
Defence Headquarters
St. John’s, Republic of Newfoundland
General Inquiries:
Phone: (709) 555-0366
Email: defence@gov.nf.ca
Emergency Response Coordination:
24/7 Hotline: 1-800-563-9999