Reduce dependence on the US, Canada strengthens Arctic defense

【Global Times Comprehensive Report】According to CBC, on March 12 local time, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau officially announced a massive plan costing over 35 billion CAD (about 5 yuan per CAD) during his inspection of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.

The plan aims to expand Canada’s military presence in the Arctic region and significantly upgrade local civilian infrastructure to address the increasingly changing global security threats. Reuters reports that Canada has traditionally relied on the United States to monitor its Arctic territory, but the tariffs implemented by U.S. President Trump and his repeated remarks about “annexing Canada” have put tremendous pressure on the bilateral relationship.

The Financial Times states that Canada will invest most of the funds in “frontline combat bases” in Yellowknife, Inuvik, and Iqaluit, to enable the Canadian Armed Forces to defend the Arctic without relying on allies. Currently, Canada has only four basic airports in the Arctic, each capable of accommodating six fighter jets, with about 2,000 soldiers deployed across the region. According to the new plan announced by Trudeau, Canada will expand military airports in the area, upgrade two civilian airports, and build four new operational support hubs. CBC reports that this networked base system will ensure that Canadian forces can deploy quickly and respond year-round in remote Arctic areas. In terms of weapon procurement, this includes recently announced Arctic over-the-horizon radar, new aerial refueling aircraft, air-to-air missiles (including short, medium, and long-range), and other command and communication system upgrades.

In his speech, Trudeau sharply criticized past governments for “scattered” investments in the Arctic, stating that previous mining, port, and road projects often lacked coherence and experienced serious delays. The Canadian government also plans to develop the Grace Bay Road and port projects, which, once completed, will become Canada’s first land route to a deep-water Arctic port, greatly facilitating the transportation of strategic minerals.

Canadian media reports that Trudeau’s latest plan marks a shift from fragmented investments to a systematic reconstruction of Canada’s Arctic strategy, aiming to boost economic development through defense spending and demonstrate Canada’s determination to defend Arctic sovereignty and security. The Arctic region of Canada holds significant geographic and strategic importance, covering about 4 million square kilometers, accounting for approximately 40% of Canada’s land area. (Yue Chao)