OTTAWA — The commander of the Canadian Armed Forces says there is no way Canada can match Russia’s large military footprint in the Arctic.
Defence chief Gen. Wayne Eyre is also pouring cold water on the idea of permanently positioning large numbers of troops in Canada’s north.
Eyre says the military’s current approach is to make sure it can be ready to deploy the necessary troops and equipment to the Arctic if they are required.
The comments to a Senate committee this week come as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is casting a sharp light on the threat posed by Canada’s northern neighbour, and what it means for this country’s Arctic defences.
Arctic sovereignty and security were front and centre as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand met with premiers frxjmtzywom Canada’s three territories Monday.
The war in Ukraine has also increased the urgency surrounding ongoing talks with the United States about modernizing the North American Aerospace Defence Command, with money expected in Thursday’s budget.
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Ice is seen in Baffin Bay above the Arctic circle from the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent, Thursday, July 10, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
