Canada's window to defend the Arctic is closing, MP warns

Canada's window to defend the Arctic is closing, MP warns

Russia has been expanding its military presence in the far North

4/6/19
An MP who has been looking into the militarization of the North warns that if Canada doesn't act now, it could slowly lose its grip on the Arctic. Liberal John McKay, the Canadian co-chair of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense with the U.S., says he fears Canada isn't ready to defend its territory as the threat from Russia slowly expands. "We are not very well prepared," he said. Russia already has missile launchers and air defense systems dotted along ice roads at various military outposts in remote areas along its northern coast. In the last five years, the Kremlin has poured vast resources into revamping Soviet-era bases in the Arctic. "There is a very dramatic buildup of Russian military capability right across the top end of Russia, starting with Norway, working right across, right through to Alaska," McKay said Friday in an interview with Chris Hall airing today on CBC Radio's The House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made no secret of his goal to lay claim to a large portion of the Arctic, citing the estimated value of minerals in the north at $30 trillion. The speed of Russia's expansion is making other nations nervous. Last month, the American commander of NORAD called on U.S. and Canadian policy makers to think about whether they're doing enough to counter Russian threats in the far North. "We haven't seen this sort of systematic and methodical increase in threats since the height of the Cold War," Air Force Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy told the group. "I would like to see more resources applied to what has become a security issue for us, primarily driven by the fact that climate change has opened up the sea lanes." He also cautioned that the government needs to act quickly and decisively, before things get worse. "I think the window of opportunity is closing quickly. And I'm not sure that many Canadians are actually aware how quickly it is closing."

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The Kremlin is militarizing the Arctic, rehabbing old Soviet bases and constructing at least 20 new ones. Putin has stated that ships sailing the economical Arctic route between Europe and the Far East will now need to obtain Russian permission.

Rogue Valley said:

Canada's window to defend the Arctic is closing, MP warns

Russia has been expanding its military presence in the far North

The Kremlin is militarizing the Arctic, rehabbing old Soviet bases and constructing at least 20 new ones. Putin has stated that ships sailing the economical Arctic route between Europe and the Far East will now need to obtain Russian permission.

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Was there ever a time that Canada could defend itself against Russia in the last 50 years?

washunut said:

Was there ever a time that Canada could defend itself against Russia in the last 50 years?

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Canada can defend her territory by simply establishing a presence on her northern territories and patrolling her waters.

Rogue Valley said:

Canada can defend her territory by simply establishing a presence on her northern territories and patrolling her waters.

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So the MP doesn't know what he is talking about? Why start the thread?

Rogue Valley said:

Canada can defend her territory by simply establishing a presence on her northern territories and patrolling her waters.

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That's not 'simple', it involves huge infrastructure projects and investments in military technology which would be politically distasteful for a huge amount of Canadians.

With the USA's abdication of maintaining its position as a global power and the reduced policing of Russia, everyone is ****ed.

MAGA

Canada could never defend the arctic.

Canada is defending Canadian Arctic sovereignty, by melting it. The more blue water, the harder it will be for Russia to control it. Pity about the fragile ecosystems there and the release of methyl-hydrates which will make global warming even worse. But through our over-reliance we can stymie the Russian threat while having a great good-bye party to which we will invite the polar bears to clean up afterwards.

Canada should develop and build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines, nuclear-powered ice-breaker cruisers, VTOL plane and helicopter armed ASW mini-carriers with ice-breaking capability and retrain or raise and equip three light infantry brigades for arctic, mountain, and amphibious operations. We should either buy or better still develop arctic capable VTOL fighter/strike aircraft, utility and attack helicopters and scout helicopters which can be deployed or dispersed for protection easily into near-north and arctic operations. We should invest in long range fighter/strike aircraft with double engines, very long range and top notch but reliable technology for fighting in a hostile electronic environment.

At the same time we should be trying to influence Russia of the benefits of a harmonious circum polar community and we should do our utmost to thwart the war-hawks in America and Russia as they try to drag the northern hemisphere into war.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.

Evilroddy said:

Canada is defending Canadian Arctic sovereignty, by melting it. The more blue water, the harder it will be for Russia to control it. Pity about the fragile ecosystems there and the release of methyl-hydrates which will make global warming even worse. But through our over-reliance we can stymie the Russian threat while having a great good-bye party to which we will invite the polar bears to clean up afterwards.

Canada should develop and build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines, nuclear-powered ice-breaker cruisers, VTOL plane and helicopter armed ASW mini-carriers with ice-breaking capability and retrain or raise and equip three light infantry brigades for arctic, mountain, and amphibious operations. We should either buy or better still develop arctic capable VTOL fighter/strike aircraft, utility and attack helicopters and scout helicopters which can be deployed or dispersed for protection easily into near-north and arctic operations. We should invest in long range fighter/strike aircraft with double engines, very long range and top notch but reliable technology for fighting in a hostile electronic environment.

At the same time we should be trying to influence Russia of the benefits of a harmonious circum polar community and we should do our utmost to thwart the war-hawks in America and Russia as they try to drag the northern hemisphere into war.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.

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But Canada didn't have to defend Canadian Arctic territories when those territories were still frozen, did it? Global warming has opened up new areas for oil and gas exploration and shipping that once were covered by ice.

the best way to defeat Russia for the next century is to replace fossil fuels and export the technology. it isn't impossible.

Dittohead not! said:

But Canada didn't have to defend Canadian Arctic territories when those territories were still frozen, did it? Global warming has opened up new areas for oil and gas exploration and shipping that once were covered by ice.

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Not really have you seen those ice breakers they have? Also the drills that are titanium that can get through a mile of ice. They would be there regardless.

Dittohead not! said:

But Canada didn't have to defend Canadian Arctic territories when those territories were still frozen, did it? Global warming has opened up new areas for oil and gas exploration and shipping that once were covered by ice.

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Sure we did. Starting in WWII and continuing throughout the Cold War we and our senior American partners militarised the arctic and constructed concentric belts of early warning, detection and surveillance bases in the arctic and the near-north of Canada. We even deployed for a time nuclear-tipped interceptor missiles bought from the USA and renamed them the Bomarc SAM missile system from 1960-1972 IIRC. We built airforce bases and oddly post offices to defend Canadian sovereignty in the arctic and we militarised First Nations and Inuit peoples by arming them using the Canadian Ranger programme.

Ice would not stop Soviet missiles and aircraft attacking North America.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.

pilot16 said:

Not really have you seen those ice breakers they have? Also the drills that are titanium that can get through a mile of ice. They would be there regardless.

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then, why is it that Russia suddenly now wants to take over those parts of the Arctic?

Evilroddy said:

Sure we did. Starting in WWII and continuing throughout the Cold War we and our senior American partners militarised the arctic and constructed concentric belts of early warning, detection and surveillance bases in the arctic and the near-north of Canada. We even deployed for a time nuclear-tipped interceptor missiles bought from the USA and renamed them the Bomarc SAM missile system from 1960-1972 IIRC. We built airforce bases and oddly post offices to defend Canadian sovereignty in the arctic and we militarised First Nations and Inuit peoples by arming them using the Canadian Ranger programme.

Ice would not stop Soviet missiles and aircraft attacking North America.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.

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The DEW line was about warning of a nuclear attack. This is about competition for resources and suddenly available shipping lanes. apples and road apples.

Rogue Valley said:

The Kremlin is militarizing the Arctic, rehabbing old Soviet bases and constructing at least 20 new ones. Putin has stated that ships sailing the economical Arctic route between Europe and the Far East will now need to obtain Russian permission.

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If it's 12 nautical miles within their territory then that's what is normal internationally agreed to standards. Do you have evidence that they are controlling areas outside of the 12 nautical miles? Seems to me the greater threat is China building literal artificial islands and claiming parts of the South China Sea, which about 60% of the world's shipping goes through.

You know, w/e defense contractor you work for could still make lots of money if you refocused on the real threat that exists with China.

Helix said:

the best way to defeat Russia for the next century is to replace fossil fuels and export the technology. it isn't impossible.

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The USA doesn't want to do that either.

calamity said:

The USA doesn't want to do that either.

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i know. however, this is a mistake, IMO.

The next fifth anniversary forum “Arctic is the territory of the dialog” will be held in St. Petersburg at the beginning of April. Are there good causes for optimism? The answer is easy. Present and more warming Arctic opens to the world wider opportunities not only for extension of major countries economics, but also for development and improvement of international dialog and for unity of the nations on the basis of political, economic, scientific, cultural and military (piece) cooperation. West countries as well as China will have to work in Arctic with Russia, but not boss it and compete with each other without her deciding and defining participation.
There seems to be a Big Fight for the Arctic as European business facing geopolitical crisis and the risk of the collapse of the EU is losing the initiative in the area, while getting rich China and Asia-Pacific countries business appetites
for raw material and transport resources of the Russian Artic provoke competition and create a threat to Anglo-Saxon West. However, if they are given the possibility to fight without Russian control, not only Russia budget but also China and the West will lose their benefits. And then bombs are likely to melt Arctic ice quicker than climate change.
For some reason the foreign policy, especially economic, is divided disproportionally into “close-distance” and simply “long-distance”. As for “long-distance” it is also divided into international and global. The Arctic is perceived just like the third macro-scale in the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Putin with his kindness will allow earning money in the Arctic to all countries, if only they won’t behave themselves like owners or colonizers of foreign area. Russia will have a power the most to ensure a peaceful international collaboration in the “North Ice”. Any country in the world doesn’t have the conditions of advantage and potential like Russia. It should be realized like the guarantee of peaceful arctic dialog.

Dittohead not! said:

then, why is it that Russia suddenly now wants to take over those parts of the Arctic?

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Its not suddenly. They have been planning this for decades. It has taken them a long time to build some of those huge nuclear ships that can get up there and cut through the ice. Plus they began drilling up there a long time ago, if you remember McCain/Palin made a big deal about it in 2008. Nobody cared.

pilot16 said:

Its not suddenly. They have been planning this for decades. It has taken them a long time to build some of those huge nuclear ships that can get up there and cut through the ice. Plus they began drilling up there a long time ago, if you remember McCain/Palin made a big deal about it in 2008. Nobody cared.

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Nobody cared until there were enough ice free shipping lanes to make people care.