Carney said the commitments will strengthen Arctic security, bolster partnerships with Indigenous communities and international allies. — Bloomberg
OTTAWA: Prime minister Mark Carney says Canada will beef up its military presence in the Arctic through increased year-round operations and a new Australian-developed radar system to detect incoming missiles.
The announcement comes as US president Donald Trump pressures Canada to increase its defence spending and makes repeated comments about turning Canada into the 51st state.
Trump has also reportedly raised questions about the future of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad), a joint partnership of Canada and the United States.
“We are strong, united and sovereign,” said Carney on Tuesday in the far northern community of Iqaluit, about 500 miles west of Greenland.
He said the commitments will strengthen Arctic security, bolster partnerships with Indigenous communities and international allies, and help “unleash the North’s full economic potential”. Canada unveiled a C$38.6bil plan to modernise Norad in 2022, which included funding for updated radar systems.
Tuesday’s announcement revealed the government has chosen an Australian partnership to build out the over-the-horizon technology at a cost of C$6bil over 20 years.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese spoke with Carney by phone on Tuesday and said in a social media post the two leaders reaffirmed the “deep friendship” between the two countries”. — Bloomberg
