275Received 24.03.2025. Revised 05.04.2025. Accepted 28.04.2025.
Abstract. The Arctic region has transitioned from a peripheral geographic space to a critical arena of escalating strategic significance in the 21st century. This transformation is primarily driven by the profound and multi-faceted impacts of climate change, which are enhancing the accessibility of the Arctic landscape and its adjacent maritime zones. The receding ice cover is not only opening up novel opportunities for the exploitation of previously inaccessible abundant natural resources, including hydrocarbons and critical minerals, but is also facilitating the intensification of maritime traffic along the Northern Sea Route. Furthermore, the prospect of the Northwest Passage emerging as a viable and potentially shorter alternative for global trade routes is attracting increasing attention from major global economic actors. These converging environmental and technological shifts are catalyzing a notable surge in geopolitical competition within the Arctic. This escalating competition underscores the imperative for robust international cooperation frameworks and the concurrent need for Arctic states to bolster their respective national capacities to safeguard their interests and contribute to regional stability. Within this evolving geopolitical landscape, Canada occupies a distinct and pivotal position as a prominent Arctic power. Characterized by extensive territorial claims spanning vast land and maritime domains, Ottawa bears significant responsibilities in the stewardship and governance of the Arctic. Consequently, Canada has articulated and actively pursues a many-sided Arctic policy designed to address the complex security and defense challenges inherent in this dynamic environment. This policy framework encompasses a dual-pronged approach: firstly, the proactive diversification of engagement modalities within the international arena, seeking to foster collaborative relationships with other Arctic and non-Arctic stakeholders to promote regional stability and address shared challenges; and secondly, the implementation of concrete domestic measures aimed at enhancing Canada’s national defense capabilities in the Arctic, ensuring its capacity to effectively monitor and protect its sovereign interests in this increasingly contested space. This paper examines the nuances of Canada’s Arctic policy within the broader context of intensifying geopolitical competition, analyzing the strategic rationales and practical implications of its dual-pronged approach to regional security and defense.
Keywords: Canada, Arctic, Foreign Policy, Security, Defense, Militarization, Russia, China, NATO, NORAD, International Cooperation
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