To say that the Arctic — particularly Canada's North — has suffered from benign security neglect would be an understatement. As much as there has been focus on Trump's Arctic ambitions, Kristoffersen said Moscow is the biggest concern. A Swedish JAS39 Gripen fighter being fitted with air-to-air missiles during a training exercise during a NATO air policing mission in Keflavik, Iceland. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)The Canadian military's operations commander, Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, said the larger northern footprint will allow for more exercises and more presence. WATCH | Top naval commander on Arctic defence: Defending distant, unsurveyed Arctic 'more complicated,' top naval commander says | Duration 3:53 The navy's top commander, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, spoke to CBC's Murray Brewster about challenges that come with Arctic defence.

Source: CBC News April 06, 2026 09:32 UTC