Canada is set to enhance its military training activities in the Arctic by deploying various forces in the region for up to 10 months annually, starting this year, according to the military’s operations commander. Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin stated that the military’s key Arctic exercise, Operation Nanook, will undergo expansion with additional components to ensure a more consistent presence in a region that is increasingly becoming a focal point of geopolitical competition.
This strategic move is seen as a unique opportunity for the Liberal government to showcase Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and to garner support from NATO allies. Michael Byers, an Arctic and geopolitics expert at the University of British Columbia, emphasized the importance of inviting major allied nations in larger numbers to demonstrate solidarity amid concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding potential actions against Canada and Greenland.
Boivin emphasized the national objective of increasing Canadian military presence in the Arctic, aiming to have more boots on the ground, warships in the water, and planes patrolling the vast territory. The plan entails extending the military presence in the Arctic to over 10 months a year, compared to the current five to six months under Operation Nanook.
The federal government has heightened its focus on the Arctic by 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. The decision to expand Operation Nanook was made before the funding announcement, with a revised schedule including seven training regimes under the annual exercise.
The first exercise under the expanded plan, Operation Nanook-Nunalivut, was conducted in February around Inuvik and the Mackenzie River Delta, involving 450 Canadian troops and around 110 armed forces members from allied countries. Byers suggested that involving more European allies in cold-weather exercises on Canadian soil could send a strong signal of support and unity in response to geopolitical challenges.
While emphasizing the importance of involving allies, Byers also highlighted the need to maintain relationships with the United States in the Arctic. Extending invitations to U.S. military and coast guard personnel could serve as a strategic approach to reinforce Canadian sovereignty and leadership in the region, countering any doubts raised by the current political climate.
The potential for a greater NATO role in the Arctic, similar to Norway’s Exercise Nordic Response, could boost morale and demonstrate allied support. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of public support from some allies in response to threats against Canada and Greenland. The importance of unity and solidarity among nations, particularly in the face of geopolitical challenges, was underscored as essential for maintaining security and sovereignty in the Arctic.