Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has warned that the security threats facing the Arctic region have 'shifted significantly', citing Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, intensifying strategic competition, and unresolved questions over sovereignty as key forces reshaping the geopolitics of the far north. The remarks, made to Global News, come as Ottawa navigates an increasingly complex relationship with Washington — a partner it depends on for Arctic defence yet is at odds with over tariffs and other political disputes.

Anand's Key Remarks on Arctic Security

Anand, who attended an Arctic nations meeting convened last week by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described the gathering as a forum for a 'frank discussion about the collective need to work together on Arctic security.' She was explicit that the United States remains a central participant in that conversation.

'So the United States is very much at the table in this conversation,' Anand said. She also detailed the bilateral dialogue with Rubio: 'One of the ongoing dialogues that Secretary Rubio and I have had specifically … is in fact how can Canada and the United States ensure that our shared interests in the Arctic are advocated, are worked on within the confines of multilateral organizations including NATO.'

Notably, Anand — who is of Indian origin — called for NATO to broaden its strategic lens beyond its eastern European flank and pay greater attention to threats in the north. 'NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, should have a view that is based on a strategic assessment of the North and the Arctic, in order to ensure that we are well defended and protected,' she said.

Canada's Defence Build-Up in the Arctic

Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has announced a series of measures to boost Canada's military presence in the region. These include a contract with German shipbuilder TKMS for a fleet of as many as 12 submarines. A decision on new fighter aircraft has not yet been finalised.

On the diplomatic front, Ottawa has opened a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, and plans to establish an additional one in Anchorage, Alaska — moves that signal a deliberate expansion of Canada's footprint across the broader Arctic zone.

Public Unease: US Seen as Bigger Threat Than Russia

The security cooperation between Canada and the United States is unfolding against a strikingly different public mood in northern Canada. A poll conducted for the Observatoire de la politique et la sécurité de l'Arctique, covering residents of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavik, found that 48 per cent of respondents regarded the United States as the greatest threat facing the Arctic region. By comparison, Russia was identified by 30 per cent, while China was cited by 12 per cent.

The findings expose a significant gap between Canada's strategic dependence on its southern neighbour and the uneasy public perception of that same neighbour — a tension that Anand's remarks appeared designed, at least in part, to manage. Ottawa's position seems to be that bilateral political and trade disputes should not be allowed to undermine practical cooperation on defence and sovereignty.

The Broader Arctic Contest: Russia, China and India

The Arctic is growing in strategic importance as retreating sea ice opens new shipping lanes and makes natural resources more accessible. Russia maintains a substantial military presence in the region, while China — which describes itself as a 'near-Arctic state' — has actively pursued a larger economic and scientific role. The two countries represent different categories of challenge: Russia as a direct military actor, and China as an assertive economic and scientific player seeking influence.

India, meanwhile, has maintained a research presence in the Arctic and released a formal Arctic Policy in 2022. New Delhi's stated interests span climate science, polar research, emerging shipping routes, and the impact of Arctic environmental changes on the Indian monsoon and the Himalayan ecosystem — reflecting the region's relevance well beyond its immediate geography.

Both Canada and the United States remain partners in the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), the joint command used to monitor aircraft, missiles, and other threats approaching the continent. How that partnership evolves amid shifting public attitudes and geopolitical pressures will be one of the defining security questions of the coming years.