ARCTIC
BY ADAM LAJEUNESSE & TIM CHOI
A
part from this clear Russian
threat, the Arctic has also
seen growing non-state in-
terest, and non-Arctic state
interest – particularly from
China. Taken as a whole, the Arctic secu-
rity environment is changing, and new ca-
pabilities and new cooperative frameworks
will be required to meet those evolving
threats. For Canada, a submarine capabil-
ity will be part of that equation.
While much of the Russian naval threat
to NATO remains centred on the Europe-
an High North, Russian submarines have
steadily increased their operations in the
Arctic Ocean adjacent Canada's northern
coast. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy (former
Commander NORAD) and Peter M. Fes-
ler (NORAD's Deputy Director of Op-
erations) issued a clear warning in a 2020
paper, highlighting the fact that Russian
"submarines now frequently conduct mis-
sion rehearsals for strikes on the United
States and Canada." The Arctic, a region
that was formerly a moat, has become a
"means of approach." As the government
of Canada reconsiders its continental de-
fence plans this summer, the maritime
component of NORAD, and the defence
of the Arctic will certainly play a central
role. As has been the case since the early
Cold War, that maritime environment will
be dominated by submarines.
The Canadian and American militaries
24 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 www.vanguardcanada.com
The Under-Ice
Environment
AS A STRATEGIC SPACE
IN RECENT YEARS THE ARCTIC HAS RE-EMERGED AS A
REGION OF GREAT POWER COMPETITION. WHILE THE
REMILITARIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC HAS LONG
BEEN A MATTER OF CONCERN IN THE WEST, RUSSIA'S
FEBRUARY 2022 INVASION OF UKRAINE HAS INJECTED
A NEW URGENCY TO THESE CONSIDERATIONS. NATO'S
THREAT ASSESSMENTS HAVE CLEARLY CHANGED AND,
OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THE CANADIAN AND
AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE RENEWED THEIR
ATTENTION TO CONTINENTAL SECURITY AND OUR
SHARED MARITIME BORDER WITH RUSSIA.
