OTTAWA, ON (October 9, 2025):
China is not an Arctic nation but its ambitions in the region are growing. Driven by strategic, economic, and geopolitical interests, China is increasingly on a collision course with the countries of the North American Arctic: Canada, the United States, and the Kingdom of Denmark, via Greenland.
Beijing is already seeking to exert influence in the region through economic pressure and control over critical resources. Greenland, in particular, is susceptible to China’s leverage.
In Exposure risks: Greenland, China, and economic security in the North American Arctic, Senior Fellow Alexander Dalziel exposes how Beijing exploits its dominance in global strategic mineral processing and its position as a key buyer of Greenlandic fish to pressure the territory and advance its Arctic interests.
“That means understanding the China threat in Greenland – and the North American Arctic – through the lens of economic security,” explains Dalziel.
“Add in China’s documented use of economic coercion… and a picture emerges of the vulnerabilities and risks that face Greenland’s and Denmark’s authorities – a picture that has implications for Canada.”
In response, Dalziel argues that Greenland – our northern neighbour – should be a cornerstone of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy. While the current policy mentions Greenland, Dalziel calls for greater integration of the island into broader defence discussions, and for advancing economic partnerships through high-level visits.
This multilayered approach, he notes, will not only foster trust, but also reduce space for Chinese influence, and help position Greenland within a broader North Atlantic economic and security framework.
“A concerted effort to assert a democratic, rules-based, self-determined, and prosperous Arctic demands Canada’s leadership,” urges Dalziel. “Forging stronger economic security co-operation is the place to start.
To learn more, read the full paper here:
Alexander Dalziel is a senior fellow at the MacdonaldLaurier Institute who spent over 20 years in Canada’s national security community.
For further information, media are invited to contact:
Skander Belouizdad
Communications Officer
(613) 482-8327 x111
Skander.belouizdad@macdonaldlaurier.ca
