In a strategic move to reinforce North American Arctic security, Canada is offering military assets to a new multilateral NATO force proposed by Germany and the United Kingdom. The initiative aims to address growing concerns over the region's stability without the need for drastic measures like a U.S. acquisition of Greenland, an idea floated by former President Donald Trump.
Multilateral Response to Arctic Security Concerns
According to government sources, Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed the need to bolster Arctic defences, including around Greenland, with European allies during a visit last week. Canada has formally welcomed the German-British plan and is actively engaged in talks with NATO partners. This collaborative effort is designed to send a clear message that the alliance takes Arctic security seriously, particularly in response to potential strategic interests from Russia and China.
The proposal gained urgency following comments from former President Trump, who repeatedly stated the United States should own Greenland to prevent foreign occupation. In January 2024, he reiterated on Air Force One that he would "love to make a deal" for the island and asserted, "one way or another, we’re going to have Greenland." Reports even suggested he requested an invasion plan, though it was reportedly resisted by military officials.
A Canadian Hub for NATO's Arctic Presence
A key Canadian contribution to this strategy comes from retired Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, former deputy chief of the defence staff. He has publicly urged the government to immediately offer to build a NATO Arctic Command headquarters in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The facility would be funded by Ottawa and staffed by personnel from NATO's Arctic nations.
Norman envisions the base as a substantial hub capable of hosting NATO aircraft, a port, and accommodations for a brigade of up to 5,000 troops. He argues such a project is feasible with dedicated funding and political will, suggesting a start with modest infrastructure that expands over time. "We need to stop making hollow commitments," Norman stated, emphasizing that decisions on an Arctic-response force must be made at "the pace of relevance, not the pace of government."
Learning from Past Failures: The Nanisivik Lesson
Norman's proposal directly references the troubled history of the Nanisivik Naval Facility off Baffin Island. Announced in 2007 as part of a broader Arctic sovereignty plan, it was intended to be a key refuelling station alongside new Arctic patrol ships. However, nearly a decade after construction began, it operates only as a summer refuelling station for four to six weeks a year. In contrast, five of the planned eight Arctic patrol ships have been delivered.
This history underscores Norman's warning against delays and bureaucratic obstacles. The proposed Iqaluit command centre is presented as a tangible alternative to symbolic projects, aiming to provide a permanent, operational NATO foothold in the High North. The multilateral force concept, supported by Canada, represents a diplomatic path to secure the Arctic, aligning allied interests without the controversy of territorial acquisition.
