Arctic SAR and the “security dilemma”

• Published in: International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis
• Main Authors: Byers, Michael, Covey, Nicole
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 2019
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020702019890339; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0020702019890339; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1177/0020702019890339

This article explains how search and rescue (SAR) equipment and personnel can strengthen Canada’s Arctic security without contributing to a classic “security dilemma”—whereby a perceived military buildup by one state leads to a responsive buildup by another state, and so on into an arms race. This is because Arctic SAR involves dual-use assets that can fulfill most existing and reasonably foreseeable Arctic security roles as a secondary mission. Avoiding a security dilemma is key with regards to Canada–Russia relations. In the Arctic arena, Russia sees itself surrounded by North Atlantic Treaty Organization states during a period of considerable tension with those same states elsewhere in the world. Although most of the responsibility for that tension lies with Russia, it is still in Canada’s interest to avoid feeding Russia’s Arctic uncertainties and insecurities, since regional military buildups can cause instability and even conflict.