Guard It Or Lose It -- Canadian Arctic

"These activities [Russian and Chinese] rarely trigger formal defence responses, but over time they reshape the strategic environment."

"Canada's current security architecture is not strongly equipped to counter grey-zone activity." 

"[While] Arctic ice melts at an unprecedented pace, the region is opening up. Navigation windows are getting longer, leading to increased activity by research vessels, ice-capable survey ships, cable-mapping operations, and autonomous underwater systems."

"[Russia and China] are rapidly advancing their Arctic-based drone capabilities, outpacing NATO."

Sweekriti Pathak, fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute think tank 

The Canadian government issued a February announcement of up to $40-billion investment in Arctic defence infrastructure. This is part of the Liberal government's pledge to increase defence spending to reach the level that NATO members were informed to be the latest expectation for member-states of the Western military alliance, from 2% of national GDP to a new high of 5%. Arctic defence falls into that general commitment for Canada.

 

In line with that commitment and increased military infrastructure spending to meet the target, the Canadian Armed Forces' intention is to operate in the Arctic on a more permanent basis, rather than as has been the norm to the present, only during warmer months. To that end, troops are expected to practice military operations in the frozen north during its iciest periods, and to accustom themselves to operating in sub-zero conditions on a prolonged basis.

 

Canadian soldiers prepare for a surveillance mission in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, as part of the annual Operation Nanook on Sept. 6. The exercise sees the small team inserted onto a remote mountain top with no additional support, honing their survival skills for multiple days. (David Common/CBC)

 

"Canada must guard against foreign research in the Canadian Arctic and North that is dual-use -- having both research and military applications", alerted a statement by Global Affairs Canada. Canada has long neglected its Arctic geography, and but for an Indigenous battery of Northern Rangers, poorly equipped by Canada, which is dedicated to acting as security scouts guarding Canadian territory, the government has not formally made it a priority to protect its northern assets. 

 

Both Russia, which geographically has a presence in the Arctic, and China, which has not, but is preparing for shipping opportunities for the future through the fast-melting sea ice -- hitherto unused in view of winter sea ice making passage challenging -- have been aggressively pursuing their objectives in the Arctic. Russia has committed to refitting and manning elong-neglected and abandoned military bases in the Russian Arctic, stationing troops there, asserting sovereignty. 

 

A drone photo shows China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2 breaking the ice to lead the way in the Arctic Ocean, Aug. 5, 2025.  Liu Shiping/Xinhua via Getty Images

 

Both countries have established an active and alert presence in the Arctic, on the long-held theory that absence is abandonment, and presence is a deterrent to any challengers. Their sustained presence focuses on data collection and development of infrastructure. Both Russia and China have keen interests in future exploitation possible in mining the seabed of its mineral and energy resources. Both have invested in Arctic-condition ships, capable of cutting through thick sea ice.

 

Russia has built nuclear icebreakers that go along with revitalized bases along sea lanes key to their interests, that include activities along the Northern Sea Route through Russia's Arctic coast, with a focus on extensive seabed and hydrographic surveys to identify underwater features; depth, topography and hazards in the interests of safe navigation and marine construction plans. Canada is just finally waking up to the necessity to do the same, initiated by the previous Conservative government.

The Israeli Elbit Systems Ltd. Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flies over the airbase during a media presentation in the central Swiss town of Emmen

(photo credit: REUTERS)

 

Canada recently took possession of a sophisticated and powerful new Hermes 900 StarLiner drone, capable of multiple tasks such as monitoring the North for oil spills and surveys of ice conditions, part of the Department of National Defence plan to strengthen Canada's Arctic defences. Built by Israel's Elbit Systems, the drone is a medium-altitude, remotely piloted device with a range of over 1,400 nautical miles, equipped with radar and camera sensors. 

 

The drone is meant to fill the gaps between satellites and manned aircraft in support of maritime surveillance for oil spills, ice mapping, shipping monitoring, search and rescue, and environmental protection. Currently, the Canadian Coast Guard has in operation six icebreakers used in the Arctic from June to November to advance maritime safety and security. New icebreakers will be designed to operate during the months heretofore left untended, featuring greater icebreaking capacities. 

 

Chinese Coast Guard vessels traversing icy waters during the joint exercise with Russia in 2024. Photo: China Coast Guard