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Canada Must Become an Arctic Superpower

Victoria-Class Canada Submarine.
(Dec. 12, 2011) The Royal Canadian Navy long-range patrol submarine HMCS Victoria (SSK 876) arrives at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor for a port call and routine maintenance. The visit is Victoria's first to Bangor since 2004. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

Key Points and Summary: The Arctic is rapidly becoming a stage for global competition, with melting ice opening shipping routes and resource opportunities. Canada, with its strategic location and vast Arctic territory, has the potential to lead but faces significant challenges

From Ice to Influence: Can Canada Become an Arctic Superpower?

The Arctic is no longer a remote frontier untouched by global geopolitics; it has become a theater of strategic competition and environmental urgency. Melting ice caps are opening new shipping routes and exposing vast reserves of untapped natural resources, while major powers like Russia and China intensify their activities in the region.

Amid this changing landscape, Canada is uniquely positioned to emerge as a leading Arctic power. However, its potential remains unrealized, hindered by policy inertia, underinvestment, and a lack of strategic vision. To secure its position as an Arctic superpower, Canada must address key areas: infrastructure, sovereignty, defense, and international cooperation.

The harsh and remote nature of Canada’s Arctic demands robust infrastructure to support both its population and strategic goals. Yet, the region remains significantly underdeveloped. Basic necessities such as all-season roads, ports, and reliable broadband connectivity are absent in many communities.

Without these critical investments, Canada’s ability to exert control and support economic development in the Arctic will remain limited. The federal government must prioritize Arctic infrastructure in its budgetary allocations, leveraging partnerships with provincial governments and Indigenous organizations. Public-private partnerships can also be a vital mechanism for funding large-scale projects. Establishing deep-water ports, modernizing airports, and expanding renewable energy projects in the region are essential steps toward unlocking the Arctic’s economic and strategic potential.

Canada’s sovereignty claims in the Arctic are strong but not uncontested. The Northwest Passage, a key shipping route, is at the heart of a longstanding dispute with the United States, which considers it an international waterway. Meanwhile, other Arctic nations are advancing their territorial claims with increasing assertiveness.

To solidify its sovereignty, Canada must enhance its presence in the region. This includes deploying more Coast Guard vessels, maintaining year-round research stations, and increasing the visibility of its military. Additionally, Canada should work toward resolving disputes with allies, like the United States, through diplomatic channels while maintaining its legal stance on sovereignty.

The Arctic’s geostrategic importance demands a robust defense posture. Russia’s militarization of its Arctic territories, including the reopening of Cold War-era bases and deployment of advanced weaponry, presents a growing challenge. Simultaneously, China’s self-declared status as a “near-Arctic state” signals its intentions to become a key player in the region. Canada’s defense policy must evolve to meet these challenges.

This requires modernizing the North Warning System, increasing the capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Arctic Response Company Groups, and investing in icebreakers that can operate year-round. Collaborating with NATO allies and the United States through NORAD modernization will also enhance Canada’s ability to monitor and respond to security threats in the region.

While competition defines much of regions geopolitics, cooperation remains essential for addressing shared challenges like climate change and sustainable development. Canada has long championed multilateralism, and the Arctic Council—a forum for regional states and Indigenous groups—offers an opportunity to lead. Canada should leverage its position within the Arctic Council to promote frameworks for responsible resource development, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights.

Canada F-35

Canada F-35. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Simultaneously, it must be prepared to counter attempts by non-Arctic states to dilute the region’s governance structures. Ensuring that Arctic governance remains the purview of Arctic nations is critical to maintaining stability and fairness.

Finally, realizing Canada’s Arctic potential requires a genuine partnership with Indigenous communities. These communities possess invaluable traditional knowledge and are critical stakeholders in the region’s future. The federal government must prioritize policies that respect Indigenous sovereignty and ensure that economic development benefits local populations. Programs supporting education, health care, and economic opportunities for Arctic Indigenous communities must be central to Canada’s strategy.

In doing so, Canada not only fulfills its moral obligations but also strengthens its legitimacy and capacity to lead in the region.

Canada Must Rise to the Challenge 

Canada’s geographic position, natural resources, and historical ties to the Arctic provide it with the foundation to become an Arctic superpower. However, this potential will remain unrealized unless Canada acts decisively.

By investing in infrastructure, asserting sovereignty, enhancing defense, promoting cooperation, and embracing Indigenous leadership, Canada can secure its place as a leader in the Arctic’s evolving geopolitical landscape.

The stakes are high, and the time to act is now.

About the Author: Andrew Latham 

Andrew Latham is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities and a professor of international relations and political theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN. Andrew is now a Contributing Editor to 19FortyFive. 

NOTE: We have fixed a mistake in the headline. We apologize for this! 

Written By

Andrew Latham is a professor of International Relations at Macalester College specializing in the politics of international conflict and security. He teaches courses on international security, Chinese foreign policy, war and peace in the Middle East, Regional Security in the Indo-Pacific Region, and the World Wars.

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