Canada is set to enhance its military training operations in the Arctic by expanding its presence in the region for up to 10 months a year, starting this year, according to the military’s operations commander. Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin revealed that the military’s key Arctic exercise, Operation Nanook, will undergo enhancements to ensure a more consistent presence in the area, which is becoming a focal point of geopolitical competition.
This strategic move is seen as an unprecedented opportunity for the Liberal government to showcase Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and garner support from NATO allies. Michael Byers, an expert in Arctic affairs and geopolitics at the University of British Columbia, emphasized the importance of inviting major allied nations to demonstrate solidarity at a time when there are concerns about potential annexation threats against Canada and Greenland.
Boivin stated that while inviting allies to join in makes sense as part of the plan, the primary objective is to increase the presence of Canadian military personnel, warships, and aircraft in the Arctic. The goal is to establish a near-permanent military presence in the region, with plans to extend operations to more than 10 months per year.
The Federal government’s recent focus on the Arctic is evident through the appointment of a specific minister for Arctic affairs and an additional $420 million allocation to the Department of National Defence for sustaining a heightened military presence in the Far North. Boivin highlighted that the decision to expand Operation Nanook was made before the government’s funding announcement, with an updated schedule incorporating seven training regimes under the annual exercise instead of the usual four.
The latest exercise, Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, which took place in February near Inuvik and the Mackenzie River Delta in the Northwest Territories, involved 450 Canadian troops and approximately 110 armed forces members from the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Byers suggested that leveraging the presence of allies could further benefit Canada amid current geopolitical challenges. He proposed the possibility of hosting a larger contingent of Danish troops for joint exercises encompassing the Canadian Arctic and Greenland to strengthen relationships and assert sovereignty without significant financial investments.
While emphasizing the importance of involving European allies in cold-weather exercises on Canadian soil as a strategic signal to the Trump administration, Byers highlighted the need to maintain open communication and engagement with the United States in the Arctic. Geopolitically, inviting U.S. military and coast guard participation would not only demonstrate Canadian leadership and sovereignty but also foster mutual understanding.
The potential for enhanced NATO involvement in the Arctic, similar to Norway’s Exercise Nordic Response, could bolster Canadian and European NATO morale, according to Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. Arnold underscored the significance of allied participation in Canada’s North as a means of strengthening security cooperation and unity in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Concerns have surfaced regarding the lack of vocal support from some of Canada’s allies in response to annexation threats and geopolitical posturing. Arnold expressed disappointment over the silence from certain governments and stressed the importance of unity among allies, particularly in standing up for smaller nations in the current security environment.
Arnold acknowledged the upcoming involvement of King Charles in the Canadian Parliament’s session later this month and emphasized that a more active NATO role in the Arctic would not only send a strong message to Washington but also reinforce the notion that Canada is not isolated within the Euro-Atlantic security framework.
