Canadian Arctic Uniquely Vulnerable to Russian Military Threats

In September 2021, Russia and Belarus launched Zabad (or “West”) – a huge military exercise on the eastern side of NATO, near the borders of Lithuania and Poland. It included about 200,000 soldiers, 80 aircraft, 300 tanks, and 250 artillery pieces that mimic how they defend the virtual NATO invasion of Blarasia. ARMS Buildup provided a real coverage of Russia: Preparing to invade it widely to Ukraine after only months, in February 2022.

So when Russian drones violated the Polish airspace on September 10 – before Zapad 2025 exercises – the load allies rushed to the sky. Dutch and Polish planes took out the drones that crossed the border – are preparing for war. Last week, Russia once again launched NATO borders: Romanian officials discovered a Russian drone in their sky on September 14, and a few days later, Russian combat aircraft briefly entered the Estonian atmosphere before NATO mobilizes for their objection.

In September 2021, Russia and Belarus launched Zabad (or “West”) – a huge military exercise on the eastern side of NATO, near the borders of Lithuania and Poland. It included about 200,000 soldiers, 80 aircraft, 300 tanks, and 250 artillery pieces that mimic how they defend the virtual NATO invasion of Blarasia. ARMS Buildup provided a real coverage of Russia: Preparing to invade it widely to Ukraine after only months, in February 2022.

So when Russian drones violated the Polish airspace on September 10 – before Zapad 2025 exercises – the load allies rushed to the sky. Dutch and Polish planes took out the drones that crossed the border – are preparing for war. Last week, Russia once again launched NATO borders: Romanian officials discovered a Russian drone in their sky on September 14, and a few days later, Russian combat aircraft briefly entered the Estonian atmosphere before NATO mobilizes for their objection.

Although the coalition was effectively interacting with the latest provocations of Russia, the episodes should give NATO. It may not be in a good position to treat such Russian actions if it occurs near the soft shell: Canada.

There are at least two interpretations of Russia’s dangerous and provocative behavior on the borders of Poland. Not good-both of them apply to the possible activities of Russia and well-documented interests in the border water in the Arctic that you share with Canada.

First, Russia may have intentionally conducted its air incursion into Poland, and intends to investigate the nature of NATO response and know what has escaped from Moscow if it pressed more. Russia and Belarus have denied that drones intentionally violated the Polish airspace, but their allegations are not credible: not only because they are the words of the dictators, but also because the limits of testing, hybrid war, and imposing psychological shock on neighbors are well documented.

The second option – that Russian drones have been inadvertently violating the Polish air field – barely better. Russian president Vladimir Putin is increasingly acting against Ukraine, causing a scenario in which the boundaries can cross the border. This month, Russia has conducted its largest air attack on Ukraine, although it is outwardly in the midst of medium peace talks in the United States. It is clear that Putin has no desire to settle, and it is preferable to continue his reckless campaign for the foreseeable future.

Perhaps the only silver lining of this dangerous loop is incredibly the clarity of NATO response, and the confrontation of the United States. Poland immediately held the emergency discussion under Article 4 of the NATO treaty. A less formal and urgent response was indicating Russia’s weakness and calling for more aggression. The United States – under the leadership of President Donald Trump has made mixed messages about its solidarity with NATO – unambiguously that it will participate with the allies to defend “every inch” of NATO sovereign lands.

Whether this is looking or changing the pushing of drones in Russia to NATO, the coalition seems more uniform and credible than it was at any time since Trump took office. But what happened on September 10 happened in Poland – at the end pointed to the NATO Treaty area, where the allies are armed with teeth and in a high condition of preparation. They live in a narrow geographical area backed by a massive presence of forces from all over the coalition.

If Russia searches for the western wing of the alliance – this means, Canada’s border waters with Russia – will be the opposite. The widening of the Arctic region, which Russia works daily on militarization and financial leverage of security and economic reasons, as well as the weak security preparation in Canada, is a tremendous weakness in NATO.

These concerns are not default. Last year, there were 12 cases when the Royal Canadian Air Force and the US Air Force were forced to scramble aircraft to treat and sometimes accompany Russian aircraft that fly and unnecessarily from the airspace in North America, according to the North America defense leadership (NORAD). These are the investigations that can see monitoring systems in North America easily.

Even as part of the NORAD partnership, Canada lacks the ability to reliable Russian investigation and infiltration in the Canadian Arctic. In a recent political paper of the Mitchell Institute, Houston Canauue – one of the retired Dean of the US Air Force – expressed the weak capabilities of the current defensive clubs in the north, which represents a soft spot in NATO.

Cantail said in an event that presents the paper, and called “the northern warning system.” Russia maintains a nuclear -powered submarine fleet, a destroyed fighter ships, strategic bombers, high -chest missiles, and a leading group in the world of ice cups near Canada.

Canada is on the right path to spread the ice slit in the Arctic in partnership with its colleague in the Arctic State and NATO allies. New submarines should also be ready in the seven years to the next ten, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports. It seems that the government of Prime Minister Mark Carney, at her discretion, is preparing to give priority to defense while not seeing it in generations. But Canada is still sadly not ready to treat Russian incursions face to face.

Abbas Qaidari recently noticed in Politics optionsA group of ranges close to the range can increase Canada’s ability to patrol in the high north and protect its sovereignty. This includes an air hybrid network and a multilateral monitoring network to expand the vision of inhabited or unmanned air penetrations, sea bottom sensors and underformed surface ships to carry out underwater patrols, and mobile missile units capable of responding to threats.

CantWell recommended a set of new defense initiatives, including securing the allied commitment to acquisition and deployment of a plane known as the E-7 Wedntail. Double engine aircraft will be used to see and report weather threats to NORAD and NATO orders. The report also recommended the development of the augmented Arctic awareness capabilities on space such as space -based radar systems and Canadian public investment and the United States in a new batch to secure the Arctic.

These proposals must be considered in the context of Trump’s plan to create a “golden dome” to defend space in North America. Canada had been holding talks to join this initiative from earlier this year to ensure that it had a seat on the table when defense decisions that affect Canadian national security are taken. The next few months, as Canada will follow new commercial and security agreements with the United States, will be central to drawing the right path forward.

Although the generous and strong commitment to the Ukrainian and European defense is still necessary, it also needs to compensate for contracts for neglect at home. It can achieve this through huge new smart investments in defensive capabilities and international security cooperation.