Canada’s military plans to be in the Arctic ‘on a near permanent basis,’ says commander
Canada is set to expand its military training regime in the Arctic, with plans to deploy a variety of forces in the region for up to 10 months a year starting this year. Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, the military’s operations commander, announced that the signature Far North exercise, Operation Nanook, will see additional elements created to ensure a greater and consistent presence in a region that is increasingly becoming a focus of geopolitical rivalry.
The move comes as a response to the growing tensions in the Arctic region, with the Trump administration expressing interest in using economic and possibly military force to assert dominance. Michael Byers, an expert in Arctic geopolitics at the University of British Columbia, sees this as an unprecedented opportunity for Canada to demonstrate its sovereignty in the Arctic and rally NATO allies behind the country.
Boivin stated that the intention is to have more Canadian military presence in the Arctic on a near-permanent basis. Operation Nanook will now see seven training regimes conducted annually, compared to the usual four. The recent Operation Nanook-Nunalivut involved 450 Canadian troops and approximately 110 armed forces members from the U.S., U.K., Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
The Liberal government has shown a renewed emphasis on the Arctic, appointing a specific minister and allocating an additional $420 million to the Department of National Defence budget for a sustained military presence in the Far North. Byers suggests that inviting more European allies to conduct cold-weather exercises in the Canadian Arctic could send a strong message to the Trump administration about Canada’s sovereignty.
While the U.S. should not be shut out of the Canadian Arctic, Byers believes that regularly extending invitations to the U.S. military and coast guard could help push back against Trump’s questioning of Canada’s nationhood. By participating in Canadian-led exercises, the U.S. would be recognizing Canadian sovereignty and leadership.
Inviting more NATO allies to participate in Arctic exercises could also boost Canadian and European NATO morale. Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, suggests that a greater show of allied participation in Canada’s North would not only reinforce Canadian sovereignty but also demonstrate unity in the face of geopolitical threats.
The silence from many allies in response to Trump’s annexation threats has been concerning, but a greater NATO role in the Arctic could show that Canada is not isolated and has the support of its allies. By showcasing a united front in the Arctic, Canada aims to assert its sovereignty and deter any potential threats to its territorial integrity.
