Canada鈥檚 chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre says while the threat of a Russian invasion in Canada鈥檚 North is 鈥渧ery low鈥� that might change in the decades to come.
Speaking at a defence conference in Ottawa, Eyre was asked about the likelihood of 鈥渓ittle green men鈥� showing up on a northern island, planting a flag, and claiming the territory as their own, as Russia did in Crimea.
鈥淟et me start off by saying the threat of that right now is very low. That鈥檚 not to say it wouldn鈥檛 change in the decades in[to] the future. We don鈥檛 know,鈥� he said.
Pressure is mounting on the federal government to formulate an Arctic strategy and make building up military force in the North a priority, since Russia鈥檚 unprovoked incursion of Ukraine.
It鈥檚 a key objective of Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly鈥檚 mandate letter, set out by the prime minister, to work with the minister of defence and the minister of northern affairs to 鈥渄efend Arctic sovereignty.鈥�
The Arctic has become the site of geopolitical competition between the countries that form the Arctic Council, which outside of Canada and Russia, includes the U.S., Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.
Global warming has made the region more accessible, raising interest in the regions natural resources, its boundaries, and strategic position.
The prime minister鈥檚 national security and intelligence adviser raised this concern earlier in the day at the same conference.
鈥淎s the Arctic continue continues to open due to climate change, Canada will face challenges to our sovereignty and amplify concerns related to our continental defense and our ability to effectively operate and compete in this environment,鈥� Jody Thomas said.
Due to this, Thomas added that NORAD activities are critical.
Last week, the Arctic Council 鈥� absent Russia 鈥� condemning the attacks in Ukraine and announcing a pause in participation of all meetings.
Eyre said as a form of deterrence, Canada must 鈥減roject force鈥� throughout its far-reaching land.
鈥淥ne of the expressions of sovereignty is being able to project force to the extremities of your country. So if we have the ability to project force, to the extremities of our country 鈥� demonstrable capability 鈥� and exercise that on a regular basis, that has deterrence of its own and it changes the decision calculus of anyone who may try to put 鈥榣ittle green men鈥� on one of our islands up there,鈥� he said.
The defence chief said equally as important is ensuring that Canada鈥檚 military is prepared to operate tactically there, survive and sustain itself, and 鈥渁ddress鈥� Russian personnel if need be.
With a file from AFP.
