President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland has reignited concerns in Ottawa over Canada’s vulnerability in the Arctic, highlighting long-standing gaps in defense, infrastructure, and sovereignty enforcement.
Although Canada has recently moved closer to meeting NATO defense spending targets, experts warn that the vast, sparsely populated Arctic region remains underprotected, despite growing geopolitical competition involving Russia, China, and now heightened U.S. pressure.
Trump’s remarks, including claims that U.S. missile defense initiatives would inherently protect Canada, have raised alarm over Canada’s reliance on American security guarantees and revived debates over sovereignty in the Northwest Passage, a strategic Arctic shipping route whose status is disputed by Washington and European allies.
Canadian officials and Arctic leaders argue that melting sea ice has transformed the Arctic from a distant concern into an immediate strategic priority, increasing commercial shipping and military interest. Inuit leaders and regional officials are urging the federal government to accelerate investment in deep-water ports, transportation corridors, and dual-use military infrastructure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has announced plans to fast-track major Arctic infrastructure projects, though disagreements persist over where Canada’s first major Arctic military port should be built and whether fixed installations can operate year-round in extreme conditions.
Military leaders caution that ports alone cannot solve Arctic defense challenges, pointing instead to the need for mobile naval platforms, icebreakers, and enhanced surveillance capabilities.
Analysts warn that Trump’s Greenland rhetoric has served as a strategic wake-up call, forcing Canada and its European allies to reconsider Arctic preparedness and reduce overreliance on U.S. military leadership in the region.
