Canada has always had high quality forces to contribute to NATO. But Canada has always had the advantage of being in the rear area when the major threat was a Soviet invasion of NATO in Europe.
Now that the frontline of NATO is essentially rotating 90 degrees north, is Canada ready to stand on the new cold frontline?
This summer, the Smolensk – an Oscar II class nuclear-powered and nuclear-missile-carrying submarine will go to the North Pole to raise the Russian flag. Her captain said in late December that this was a major mission for the submarine, which is just coming out of a two year refit.
Let’s be clear so there is no misunderstanding on this action. A Russian captain is only allowed to say what is official policy – their public comments are more tightly controlled than even Canadian bureaucrats, scientists and military officials. A Russian navy submarine is also an instrument of the state. There can be no doubt that unlike Mr. Chilingarov’s 2007 trip with French submarines, this is a clear expression of state policy. When the captain of the Smolensk goes to the North Pole to plant the Russian flag he is making a clear official political statement by the most powerful military instrument of the Russian state.
What should be the most disturbing for Canadians is that this announcement comes immediately after Canada has indicated that it may be including the region near and surrounding the North Pole in its submission regarding the outer limits of its continental shelf. The timing of the captain’s announcement of this mission is not a coincidence. The Russians have been sending their nuclear submarines into Arctic waters since the Cold War; planting flags is not a normal part of missions.
This is clearly a message to Canada that the Russians see the North Pole as theirs. This action is also a repudiation by Russia of the promises made by all five Arctic states that can establish an extended continental shelf in the Arctic not to use military actions to support or sustain their relevant claims.
If Canada can't defend their polar claims, others will fill the void. Does Ottawa really want to trust Moscow?
Canada needs an attitude adjustment that recognizes that they have the new frontline of NATO and that the rest of NATO is the rear area.
Canada needs forces designed to operate and fight in the polar regions. They need not be numerous, but they need the equipment and training to monitor the region, and to get there and prevail there if others move in.
And Canada needs to bolster the new northern frontline states within NATO and push NATO membership for Sweden and Finland to bulk up that flank.
Canada can become the A-Team of NATO in the Arctic or just ignore the Russians and pretend Canada is still the rear area of the alliance.
A reputation for politeness and a cold stick will get Canada more with Russia than just politeness, eh?
