Safeguarding Canadian Arctic Sovereignty Against Conventional Threats

• Main Author: Abboud, Dave
• Other Authors: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Geography; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *MILITARY OPERATIONS; *MILITARY CAPABILITIES; *WAR POTENTIAL; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; *CONFLICT; *CANADA; CONVENTIONAL WARFARE; ARCTIC OCEAN; RUSSIA; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; AGREEMENTS; UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; DENMARK; COMPARISON; THREATS; GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN); THESES; *CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY; *TERRITORIAL DISPUTES; *ARCTIC MILITARY OPERATIONS; CLIMATE CHANGE; UNCLOS(UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA); INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES; ARCTIC OPERATIONS; COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS; CONFLICT POTENTIAL; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Canada; Climate change; Law of the Sea
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA502154; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA502154

The effects of climate change as well as national interests over control of vast amounts of natural resources in the Arctic seem to be destabilizing the geostrategic environment involving the circumpolar states. A traditional conflict scenario in the near future is not out of the question, particularly if the legal framework governing the region, the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty, proves inadequate to address the full range of issues in the region and fails to resolve territorial claims. Canada has ongoing disputes with the United States, Russia, and Denmark concerning the Arctic region and has recently reaffirmed its commitment to its national sovereignty. The primary research question posed by this thesis is as follows: Does Canada have the necessary military capabilities for Arctic operations to deter and counter conventional threats to its sovereignty in the Arctic? There are three secondary questions: What is the current geostrategic environment in the Arctic region, including the potential for conflict?; What are the national interests, policies, and military capabilities of Canada, the United States, Russia, and Denmark regarding the Arctic?; and After comparing each country's military capabilities for Arctic operations and identifying a gap in Canadian military capabilities, how should Canada proceed to ensure its sovereignty in the Arctic? The results of the comparative analysis of military capabilities for Arctic operations establishes that Canada does not have the necessary military capabilities to deter and counter conventional threats to its sovereignty in the Arctic. Consequently, Canada should leverage the other means of national power, specifically its existing multilateral security and defense agreements, to ensure its sovereignty in the Arctic region. The original document contains color images.