Ottawa, July 14 -- Canada and Portugal have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation on aeronautical search and rescue operations in the North Atlantic, Canada's Department of National Defence said on Monday.

The agreement formalises an existing operational partnership between the Canadian and Portuguese defence ministries, enhancing coordination, information sharing and the development of common procedures between the two neighbouring search and rescue (SAR) regions in the North Atlantic.

The annual multinational exercise brought together search and rescue personnel from Canada, Portugal and other North Atlantic partners to conduct training in long-range coordination, maritime distress response and multinati...