Canada and Australia plan to work together on the creation of a new military radar system in the Arctic as global interest and competition in the area intensify.
The proposal was unveiled by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who voiced worries about escalating security risks in the region.
"Our administration will collaborate with our longtime allies in Australia to develop an advanced long-range over-the-horizon military radar system," Carney stated to journalists gathered in Iqaluit, Nunavut during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Carney mentioned that the radar system, worth over $6 billion, would boost Canada’s monitoring abilities and enable the nation to address air and sea threats more efficiently.
This represents an investment exceeding $6 billion for the most cutting-edge and efficient radar system," Carney went on to say, noting that the new setup "will allow Canada to identify and react to airborne and sea-based threats across our Arctic region more swiftly and from greater distances.
"It will primarily ensure the safety of all Canadians," Carney stated.
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Any new defense facilities Canada builds in the Arctic will likely conform to NORAD standards, highlighting the nation's continued collaboration with the U.S. through their enduring defense agreement.
Canada needs to be robust in our alliances, especially with NORAD," Carney stated. "The announcements made today will reinforce our dedication to NORAD. It is essential that we do not rely primarily on others for defending our country.
Carney further disclosed strategies for maintaining a more constant Canadian military presence in the Arctic, allocating an extra $420 million to enhance safeguards across aerial, maritime, and terrestrial territories.
Our opponents are becoming more confident," Carney further stated. "The international organizations and principles that have safeguarded Canada are now under scrutiny. Additionally, the focus areas of the United States, which were previously very much in line with ours, are starting to change.
The Arctic zone, encompassing territories belonging to only these eight countries—Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States—is now a stage for escalating geopolitical rivalry.
Even though Canada has strong security partnerships with the United States, disagreements persist regarding sovereign rights. Both nations still have conflicting views on who owns the Northwest Passage; Canada insists on having sole jurisdiction, whereas the U.S. regards it as open for international navigation.
At the same time, Russia and China have increased their collaborative efforts in the area, which has raised additional concerns among Western nations. In July, the US Department of Defense cautioned that "enhanced collaboration" between Russia and China could potentially reshape the Arctic's balance and security landscape.
That same month, US and Canadian forces intercepted Russian and Chinese bombers flying in formation near Alaska. The two countries’ navies have also conducted joint operations in international waters off Alaska in 2022 and 2023, according to the US military.
As U.S. President Donald Trump steps up his attention towards Greenland, Denmark has also boosted its local military expenditures. In January, they unveiled a $2.05 billion initiative worth 14.6 billion Danish kroner aimed at enhancing their defensive capacities in the Arctic region.
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