Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland are considering a recommendation to form a military pact is to be considered at a May summit of foreign ministers from the five nations.
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It's yet another sign, said University of Calgary political scientist Rob Huebert, of the intensifying international interest in the oil-rich Arctic, its increased strategic importance for northern nations and - above all - a growing wariness of Russia's revitalized military activity in the polar north."
Each of these countries spend nearly double the percentage of their GDP on defense as does Canada. As I have pointed out, the US and NATO countries already complain that Canada does not spend enough on their military to be considered 'their fair share'. Note this is not the amount they contribute to NATO but the homeland Canadian military budget.
For the most part, the recent Russian bomber approach to Canadian airspace was greeted warmly by many posters on this board. Some want the Russians to be a weapons supplier for Canada, map Ottawa with their planes, drop the US as an ally and form a new alliance with Russia, drop all alliances, drop out of NATO specifically and believe if you weren't condemned to live next to the US you would need no military budget at all.
Canada has one of the largest land masses to protect, largest proven oil reserves to protect, largest coast line, and probably in the not so distant future you are going to have tourist cruises and international flights traipsing thru the Northwest passage.
I wonder if the mentioned Nordic countries are just being needlessly concerned? I wonder if they envy Canada's ability to protect all of it''s assets and Arctic claims so efficiently. I wonder if they would gladly trade neighbors with Canada.
Arctic tensions heat up
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It's yet another sign, said University of Calgary political scientist Rob Huebert, of the intensifying international interest in the oil-rich Arctic, its increased strategic importance for northern nations and - above all - a growing wariness of Russia's revitalized military activity in the polar north."
Each of these countries spend nearly double the percentage of their GDP on defense as does Canada. As I have pointed out, the US and NATO countries already complain that Canada does not spend enough on their military to be considered 'their fair share'. Note this is not the amount they contribute to NATO but the homeland Canadian military budget.
For the most part, the recent Russian bomber approach to Canadian airspace was greeted warmly by many posters on this board. Some want the Russians to be a weapons supplier for Canada, map Ottawa with their planes, drop the US as an ally and form a new alliance with Russia, drop all alliances, drop out of NATO specifically and believe if you weren't condemned to live next to the US you would need no military budget at all.
Canada has one of the largest land masses to protect, largest proven oil reserves to protect, largest coast line, and probably in the not so distant future you are going to have tourist cruises and international flights traipsing thru the Northwest passage.
I wonder if the mentioned Nordic countries are just being needlessly concerned? I wonder if they envy Canada's ability to protect all of it''s assets and Arctic claims so efficiently. I wonder if they would gladly trade neighbors with Canada.
Arctic tensions heat up