NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called for more investment within the Arctic as Moscow reopens lots of of soviet-era military sites.
Stoltenberg warning got here while he was visiting Canada’s Arctic region – the primary time a NATO security general has done so within the history of the alliance.
Through the visit, Stoltenberg also stressed that the shortest route for Russian missiles and bombers to achieve North America can be through the North Pole.
“Russia has arrange a latest Arctic Command. It has opened lots of of latest and former Soviet-era Arctic military sites, including airfields and deep water ports. Russia can also be using the region as a testbed for lots of its latest and novel weapons systems,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO’s secretary-General also noted that after Finland and Sweden join the alliance, seven of the eight Arctic countries will probably be NATO members, except only Russia.
Before this visit, Canada has been wary of a NATO presence in its Arctic region.
But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has modified the geopolitical situation.
“It will be important that all of us recognise the shifting geopolitical realities that the world is now facing and across the NATO alliance countries are investing more in the flexibility to secure NATO territory including across the Arctic,” Trudeau said.
Canada has also been previously criticised for not spending enough on its military as a NATO member. But in June, it announced a €3.8 billion investment in modernizing its NORAD facilities.
NORAD, or the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a three way partnership with Washington to detect incoming Russian aircraft or missiles.
Stoltenberg and Trudeau also said climate change is creating latest security challenges within the arctic, as melting ice is making the world more accessible to militaries.
And Stoltenberg expressed concerns about cooperation between Beijing and Moscow for shipping and resources exploration within the Arctic.
China can also be planning to construct the world’s largest icebreaker fleet.
