CSIS warns Canada's Arctic is 'attractive' and 'vulnerable' to foreign threats
A 2024 briefing note from the spy agency detailed how hostile nations could take aim at Canada's mineral rich north.
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The Arctic serves as an “attractive, strategic and vulnerable destination” for Canada's global adversaries, the country's spy agency is warning.
According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), foreign nations looking to seize control of the region could develop resource extraction projects, increase shipping presence, build ports and potentially militarize the Arctic, the Canadian Press reports.
With a foothold established, adversaries could “generate substantial influence and interference opportunities,” cautions the intel agency.
CSIS points to the convergence of environment, critical infrastructure, economic activity and geopolitics as factors driving the vulnerability in the area. The assessment was obtained from an agency briefing note, “Issues & Vulnerabilities in Canada's Arctic,” which was dated April 2024 and was obtained through an access to information request by CP.
Canada's Arctic has become a point of contention in recent times, as President Donald Trump has asserted the U.S. is footing the bill for defence of the region.
Trump has also placed pressure on mineral rich and sparsely populated Greenland, a territory of Denmark, which also has access to the far north.Â
“I suggest that not only does the Trump administration know how many critical minerals we have but that may even be why they keep talking about absorbing us and making us the 51st state,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was heard saying in a hot mic recording on February 7. “They’re very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also addressed the issue last month, where he said the nation's “safety, territory and trade with the U.S. requires we take back control” of the north during a press conference from Iqaluit.
“Regardless of the intent behind the potentially harmful activity to the Arctic and Northern Canada, repercussions could be devastating for Canada's northern and Arctic residents, ecosystem, assets and interests," the brief obtained by CP says.
Global powers like China and Russia, in addition to the U.S., are also keen on having access to the region, CSIS spokesperson Lindsay Sloane warned.
“CSIS continues to detect, deter and counter foreign interference activities by hostile states targeting the Arctic,” she said.
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COMMENTS
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Bernhard Jatzezck commented 2025-03-05 20:51:52 -0500In the late 1960s, oil was discovered on the North Slope of Alaska near Prudhoe Bay. Because of its location, getting that oil to market was tricky and one of the methods considered was by tanker. Many readers may remember how the ship, the SS Manhattan, attempted to navigate the Northwest Passage, but that wasn’t without opposition.
PET claimed that the voyage was a violation of Canadian sovereignty, but maritime law back then limited territorial waters to 12 miles off-shore, namely the distance to the horizon. But, for many of our Arctic islands, the distance between them was considerably more, so the Americans weren’t necessarily infringing on Canadian territory.
As it turned out, the idea was abandoned as there were some regions where the ice thickness would have made navigation impossible. Eventually, the decision was made to move that oil south by pipeline to a port that was easily accessible by ship. That trip, and the dispute surrounding it, eventually led to the law of the sea redefining territorial waters to a 200-mile limit, thereby allowing maritime countries the legal rights to offshore minerals.
But the fact that there was enough space for a ship to sail between various islands should have sent a message to Ottawa to increase surveillance of that region and dispatch sufficient forces to defend it. Nowadays, it would be quite easy for a nuclear submarine to make its way through the Passage and, perhaps, do so submerged along the entire route. And that sub might not be bearing an American flag….. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-03-05 18:53:57 -0500Incursions in the Arctic would be a good excuse for America to invade us. And Dopey Trudeau is too stupid to care. Same applies to the Liberals. Pierre Poilievre can promise all he wants but he needs to win the election first. Greedy Jagmeet Singh will prop up the Liberals so he can keep getting more of OUR tax dollars. What a greedy pig!
