After more than a decade of involvement, Canada’s special forces are dropping out of a U.S.-sponsored military exercise in Africa, with Ottawa saying it needs to reconsider where to deploy its resources.

The decision to stop participating in the annual Flintlock exercise, a key Pentagon priority in Africa, could be a sign that the Department of National Defence is stretched thin, with a growing list of commitments in Europe, Asia and the Arctic, defence analyst David Perry said.

The counterterrorism exercise began this week with opening ceremonies in Ivory Coast and Libya, where an estimated 1,500 troops from more than 30 countries are taking part as trainers or trainees. The manoeuvres are aimed at helping African armies respond better to threats from terrorists and violent extremist groups.

Canada has participated in Flintlock for 14 years, usually by deploying a contingent of officers from the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, known as CANSOFCOM, to help train their African counterparts.