Homeland Defense Institute (HDI)’s Post

https://lnkd.in/ggrcyp9B and so it continues....Justin Trudeau continues to subvert and diminish Canadian identity at every turn. North America by definition includes Mexico. yet only Canada and the US have a shared geographic interest in the Arctic. how can our sovereignty be protected anywhere if we fail to preserve our national standing in the world? starting with our name? I am sick of this drip drip drip of denial of who we are as a sovereign, democratic and strong nation and people.

Canada-U.S. Arctic Cooperation It’s encouraging to witness Canada and the United States, long-standing allies and close friends, taking a significant step forward in Arctic collaboration with the creation of a joint task force to negotiate the Beaufort Sea boundary. In a rapidly changing Arctic landscape marked by new challenges and strategic competition, this collaborative effort exemplifies how democracies and allies can address complex local and global issues. By working jointly to clarify maritime boundaries and engaging meaningfully with Indigenous partners, Canada and the U.S. are establishing precedents for responsible conservation and sustainable use of Arctic resources. This is a shining example of what is possible when friends and allies unite to promote, protect, and defend shared values and environments. Let’s hope this inspires other democracies and their allies around the world to pursue similar collaborative approaches to global challenges. #ArcticCooperation #CanadaUSRelations #AlliesInAction #SustainableFuture https://lnkd.in/eCE2ZDsK

I don't share this author's take on Canada needing to invest on an Arctic Grand Strategy on the premise of already being a global diplomatic power. In Quebec we'd call such assertion "pêter plus haut que son trou". But a Canadian Grand Strategy for the Arctic is certainly a critical pathway to our future National Power. And it needs to be "Grand", because the traditional instruments of national power ("DIME" for Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) are seriously lacking in the big "R", for Resilience. And behind it an "I" for physical infrastructure. Few organizations seem to understand this better than Arctic 360. Little of this argument is new to Arctic-focused communities, nor is there a lack of consensus in being one crisis away from large Federal investments in the North. But without a Grand Strategy and the accompanying data for all stakeholders to understand the physical, environmental and social complexities of the Arctic, it will once again be "shots in the dark", Nanisivik-style. Moreover, few organizations have the competence to see such strategy through. It needs the sort of complexity-informed approaches and systemic thinking the Federal Government has proven unable to produce with the Indo-Pacific Strategy. It is not a coincidence that the Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes Canadian Forces College and the Canadian School of Public Service has used the Arctic as the context by which they train leaders to deal with complexity, partnered with Archipelago of Design. But to continue, the vanes of industry collaboration closed in panic since "ArriveScam" will need some easing. P.S. If you are not aware of how ill-suited Nanisivik is to Canada's Arctic needs, I certainly recommend engaging with Colonel (Retired) Pierre Leblanc. Enlightening! #GIS #Arctic #Nanisivik #ResoluteBay #GrandStrategy #CAF #CSPS #EsriCanada #Arctic360 #NationalSecurity #GovernmentofCanada

In Foreign Policy, my colleague Paal Hilde and I argue that the latest U.S. Arctic Strategy is not really about the Arctic. On the contrary, the strategy focuses on the role of Alaska as a strategic flank in the U.S. Indo-Pacific rivalry with China. In our essay, we are discussing two potential pitfalls with overemphasizing China's influence in the Arctic region. https://lnkd.in/dzfHFrEV

As the alliance between Russia and China deepens in the Arctic, the frozen region is becoming more critical than ever in international relations. Read more about what experts have been discussing at the East-West Center: https://lnkd.in/eKb8nK5A

Kirkenes, a small town in Norway, is poised to become a key stop on China’s Polar Silk Road, as climate change makes Arctic shipping routes more viable. As ice melts #climatechange along the Northern Sea Route, Kirkenes is strategically located to link China with Europe #globalpowershift positioning itself as a vital port for future international trade. What will happen to the king crabs city…

The Arctic has clearly been on China's mind the last few years, as is evinced by terms like "西北航道" (Northwest passage) and "沿岸国" (littoral state) making regular appearances in PRC press conferences. Principles such as "尊重、合作、共赢、可持续 " (respect, cooperation, win-win result[s] and sustainability), which specifically addresses China's approach to handling Arctic waters, have been highlighted in larger publications as well. In light of an article released on CNN just today titled "China’s Coast Guard claims to have entered the Arctic Ocean for the first time" (https://lnkd.in/ernN6-fh), it's probably a good time to revisit China's 2018 White Paper titled "China's Arctic Policy". Read it in parallel here: https://lnkd.in/eqvVC7E6

US, Canada and Finland will collaborate on the produciton of the ice-breakers for #Alaska in frames of the ICE Pact Agreement. #Infrastructure investment, particularly in icebreakers, is vital for the Arctic. Icebreakers ensure access to remote areas that are otherwise inaccessable, support strategic operations but also contrubute to communities economy, facilitate scientific research, and strengthen search-and-rescue and emergency preparedness. Read more here. https://lnkd.in/eQQNaZKp #Arctic Alice Rogoff Marybeth Sandell

🌐 Engaging in High-Level Dialogue on Arctic Affairs 🌐 It was an absolute honor and privilege to engage in a profound discussion on Arctic affairs with His Excellency Søren Kelstrup , the Danish Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Ambassador Emily McLaughlin , representing Canada in the Czech Republic. Our meeting underscored the importance of international collaboration and shared interests in the Arctic region. The Arctic, with its vast resources and strategic significance, has increasingly become a focal point of global attention. Our dialogue delved into various facets of Arctic governance, environmental stewardship, and geopolitical dynamics, with a particular focus on the implications of international agreements on regional affairs. Two questions from me stood at the forefront of our discussion: 1️⃣ How have international agreements, such as the 1998 Antarctic Treaty, impacted Russia's military operations and resource exploitation in the Arctic? Exploring the intricate interplay between international agreements and Russia's activities in the Arctic was paramount. We delved into the nuances of treaties like the 1998 Antarctic Treaty, examining their implications on Russia's military strategies and resource exploitation endeavors in the region. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering cooperation and ensuring sustainable development in the Arctic. 2️⃣ What strategies are being pursued by other Arctic nations to respond to Russia's military presence and implement their interests in the region? In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the strategies adopted by Arctic nations to navigate Russia's military presence and safeguard their interests are of utmost importance. Our conversation explored various approaches and initiatives aimed at promoting stability, enhancing security, and advancing national interests in the Arctic. By exchanging insights and perspectives, we gained valuable insights into the diverse strategies employed by Arctic stakeholders. Our meeting underscored the significance of constructive dialogue and collaboration in addressing the complex challenges facing the Arctic region. As global citizens, it is incumbent upon us to work together to preserve the Arctic's unique environment, promote sustainable development, and uphold international cooperation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Ambassador Søren Kelstrup and Ambassador Emily Ann McLaughlin for their invaluable insights and gracious hospitality. I look forward to continued engagement and cooperation in shaping a prosperous and sustainable future for the Arctic. #Arctic #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #Sustainability #Collaboration #GlobalAffairs

Anne-Marie Brady, professor of politics and international relations at Canterbury, NZ, wrote the book "China as a Great Polar Power," highlighting the importance of China's activities in Antarctica, and their relevance to current geopolitical issues coming to the fore in the Arctic, which is finally receiving the attention it deserves. When it comes to the role of China's vast distant water fishing fleet (DWF), its track record in Antarctica and surrounding south polar seas should provide clear insight into the future threats we potentially face once this fleet is unleashed in the Arctic. As Tom Sharpe, a Former Royal Navy officer and commander of the icebreaker HMS Endurance, points out: "Today, in line with their global modus operandi of sending fishing fleets far and wide, China has a fleet of ‘super trawlers’ in Antarctic waters exploiting the vast quantities of krill and other fish knowing that regulation is nearly impossible and claiming ‘research’ if challenged. In 2019 China attempted to claim control of Dome Argus, the highest point of Antarctica and perhaps the coldest place on Earth – between the mountains there and the ice sheet on top of them, the surface is at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet. Dome Argus sits squarely in the Australian slice of the pie. This was blocked, but for how long?" Tom Sharpe calls out the apparent atrophy in the West's defense and enforcement of the Antarctic Treaty, suggesting the PRC seeks to dismantle and weaken existing international instruments and law to advance its global agenda. China has already succeeded spectacularly at dismantling the relevance of UNCLOS in the South China Sea, and Sharpe is spot on for calling global attention to the Antarctic Treaty as the next potential victim. What to think then of the current moratorium on commercial fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean that China signed on to? This is probably best interpreted as a matter of lawfare designed to expand China's future role in Arctic governance matters while it primes its maritime militia and vast DWF to turn north, as it works its way to becoming what Anne-Marie Brady calls a Great Polar Power. It is questionable what fisheries resources will remain in the North once China achieves that status in both polar regions - the Antarctic and the Arctic, so for those dependent on sustainable fisheries in the Arctic, ignore these developments at your own peril.