YELLOWKNIFE, Canada (Diya TV) — Canada announced a sweeping plan to strengthen its military presence in the Arctic, signaling a shift toward greater defense independence and increased protection of its northern territory. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday unveiled a C$35 billion ($25.7 billion) strategy aimed at modernizing Canada’s Arctic defenses. The plan seeks to improve surveillance, expand military infrastructure, and reinforce Canada’s sovereignty in the vast Arctic region.
The announcement comes as tensions grow between Canada and the United States over trade policies and geopolitical issues. Ottawa now wants to rely less on Washington for monitoring and defending the Arctic.
Carney said Canada must take greater responsibility for protecting its territory and national security.
“We will no longer depend on any one nation,” Carney said during a speech in Yellowknife. “Canada will build a stronger, more independent country and take full responsibility for defending our Arctic sovereignty.”
Canada’s Arctic region covers about 4.4 million square kilometers of land and sea. That area is larger than India and includes some of the most remote terrain on Earth.
For decades, Canada has relied heavily on military cooperation with the United States to monitor this vast region. The two countries operate the continental defense system known as the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. The new strategy aims to expand Canada’s own surveillance capabilities and military infrastructure across the Arctic.
Experts say the Arctic is becoming increasingly important for global security and economic competition. Carney warned that climate change is transforming the region rapidly. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising nearly three times faster than the global average. Melting ice could open new shipping routes and access to natural resources. That shift has drawn interest from major global powers seeking strategic advantages in the region.
“The assumptions that shaped decades of Canadian defense and security are being upended,” Carney said.
He noted that countries around the world are watching the Arctic closely and preparing to expand their presence there.
The new proposal outlines how Canada plans to use previously announced defense funding in the Arctic. In 2022, the Canadian government committed C$38.6 billion to modernize defense systems and strengthen NORAD operations with the United States. The latest announcement provides further details about how those funds will improve infrastructure and military readiness.
Canada currently maintains a limited military presence in the region. The country has four basic Arctic airfields that can each support six fighter jets. Around 2,000 soldiers are stationed across the vast territory. Officials say the new plan will expand those capabilities and improve surveillance and response times.
Canada has faced increasing pressure from allies to spend more on defense. Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have long urged Ottawa to meet the alliance’s defense spending target of 2% of national economic output. Carney’s government now promises to reach that benchmark five years earlier than previously planned.
The announcement also follows tensions between Canada and the United States during the administration of Donald Trump. Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and comments about potentially annexing Canada strained relations between the two neighbors. Those developments have encouraged Canada to rethink its defense strategy and focus more on self-reliance.
Canada’s Arctic territory remains one of the most sparsely populated regions in the world. Harsh weather, long distances, and limited infrastructure make military operations difficult. Still, Canadian leaders say defending the region is essential to national sovereignty and economic security.
Officials expect the new investments to strengthen Canada’s ability to monitor airspace, protect shipping routes, and respond to emergencies. Carney said the plan marks a major step toward ensuring Canada can defend its northern frontier independently.
“As the Arctic changes, Canada must be ready,” he said. “Our sovereignty depends on it.”
The government plans to roll out the defense improvements over the coming years while working with northern communities and military partners to support the region’s security and development.
