CANADA PREPARES TO DEPLOY ARMED SHIPS, SOLDIERS TO PROTECT ARCTIC DOMINION
From Canadian Press :
"Canada's dominion over the frozen north has been routinely challenged over the years, but it has happened with increasing frequency as global warming has made the once ice-clogged passageways easier to traverse.
Russia, the US and even Greenland are enthusiastically eyeing off the opening up of new shipping lanes that will cut months off the journeys of major freight travels. As the ice retreats, not only do new shipping lanes become passable, but new areas exploitable for mining, oil extraction and even coastal residential development all become reality.
Canada controls some of the most valuable coastline in the new ice-free Arctic of the coming decades, but even they are already aware they will have to defend it.
The idea that war could break out in the Arctic between countries like Canada, Russia, Greenland and the US seem almost incomprehensible, but Canada at least is taking this future issue very seriously indeed.
More from Canadian Press :
"The best to way to safely and quickly dispatch armed icebreakers to the Arctic would be to equip existing vessels with 50-calibre weapons, the commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic said Wednesday."Rear Admiral Dan McNeil said Canada could assert its presence and sovereignty in the north by placing naval personnel on coast guard icebreakers that could patrol the frozen archipelago that has caused jurisdictional rifts with the United States.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the pledge, that would also establish a deep-water submarine base in the Arctic, during the recent election campaign.
"The Conservatives have revealed few details about how they plan to roll out their military package, which included promises to recruit 13,000 new, full-time soldiers and another 10,000 reservists, and to buy new ships and planes.
"They have pledged to add $5.3 billion to the defence budget over five years.
"Prime Minister Harper issued a warning shot to the States following his election win in January when he said he would stick to his plan to exert its authority in the North despite criticism from U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins."
