Updated

The Canadian government is restoring the country's traditional U.N. peacekeeping role by providing up to 600 soldiers for missions around the world.

Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said Friday that Canada is committed to re-engaging in a many multilateral peace operations.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to return Canada to peacekeeping after more than a decade of dwindling participation. Canada had participated in more direct combat operations such as the war in Afghanistan.

The additional soldiers represent an increase over the 19 Canadian troops deployed on peacekeeping missions at the end of July, bringing the total more in line with the number of Canadian peacekeepers deployed in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Canadian government did not say where the troops will be deployed.