Canada and the Nordic countries are working to create an alliance to counter Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told Bloomberg.
Last weekend, Joly met with his colleagues from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in the Canadian city of Iqaluit, the agency notes. The ministers agreed to explore ways to create an “Arctic security dialogue” or a new forum to discuss defense issues, the head of Canada’s Foreign Ministry told the publication.
These discussions should focus on foreign investment in the Arctic and “dual-use” research by potential adversaries, the minister added.
Canada, according to Joly, long thought it was protected by its geography.
“But now we must take into account the fact that we are a country that is confronting Russia and, due to climate change, more and more countries are showing interest in the Arctic, including China.” – she said.
Ottawa must take this “new reality” into account, Joly believes.
Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland and Sweden are members of the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental organization of Arctic states.
In early March 2022, all Arctic Council countries except Russia issued a statement refusing to participate in meetings chaired by Moscow. In June, they announced their intention to resume work at the council on a limited basis on projects that do not involve Russian involvement.
Russian ambassador in Ottawa Oleg Stepanov At the end of September he said that in the Arctic Council working groups there continues to be a “drip of communication” between Russia and Canada, and cooperation along these lines in general “at least breathes.”
However, according to the diplomat, communication is influenced by the fact that the vast majority of the countries participating in the council have become members of NATO.
All member states of the Arctic Council, except Russia, are members of the military alliance. Sweden was the last to join in early March; Before that, Finland became a member of the bloc.
Russian authorities pointed out the negative consequences for the country’s security of NATO expansion. After Finland joined the bloc, Russian President Vladimir Putin Signed a decree on the reestablishment of the Leningrad and Moscow military districts. Moscow associated response measures with the need to stop threats, RBC recalls.
