Canada and Norway

• Main Authors: von Hlatky, Stéfanie, Berdal, Mats
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 2022
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Norway
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192855534.003.0011; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/48457136/oso-9780192855534-chapter-11.pdf

Abstract The chapter analyses the policies of Canada and Norway in NATO. While the two countries have distinct regional security priorities, they place NATO, as well as their bilateral relationship with the United States, at the core of their foreign and defence policies. Domestic political support for NATO remains strong in both countries. While they both share a strong interest in promoting greater Alliance cohesion and are committed to tackling ‘emerging security threats’, they have distinct views on threat assessment and the relative expansion of NATO’s military tasks above and beyond collective defence and deterrence. In the case of Norway, the direction of Russian defence and security policy under Putin, rapid changes in weapons technologies, the weakening of existing arms control regimes, and the uncertain effects of environmental pressures in the Arctic and the High North have all combined to bring its NATO priorities back to its historical core: securing reinforcements to the Northern flank in the event of crisis and ensuring that key allies maintain an interest in NATO’s Northern periphery. For its part, Canada has made NATO a priority by contributing to its operations and activities, while decreasing its involvement in UN operations. NATO represents a useful diplomatic forum for a country which is dependent on its bilateral defence cooperation with the United States. Ultimately, what sets Canada apart from Norway is a threat perception tempered by the security benefits that three oceans and a powerful neighbour offer.