Canada must counter Russia's expanding Arctic ambitions, experts argue

In an opinion column, Alexander Dalziel and Sergey Sukhankin argue that Canada must sharpen its focus on the Arctic while global attention remains on the U.S.-Iran conflict. They point to recent NATO commitments made in Turkey to boost maritime security in the Arctic and North Atlantic, but stress that Russia’s authoritarian agenda—backed by a growing fleet of nuclear submarines, icebreakers, and a proposed Transarctic Transport Corridor—poses a persistent threat.

Moscow’s partnership with China, which seeks alternative export routes and intelligence gathering, further complicates the security picture. Despite sanctions and the strain of the war in Ukraine, Russian elites are likely to keep prioritizing Arctic power. The authors recommend an all-society approach, combining new Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers, Royal Canadian Navy submarines, and community-based entities like the Canadian Rangers, while leveraging scientific research and democratic partnerships with provinces, territories, and Indigenous groups.