This article originally appeared in The Hill Times. Below is an excerpt from the article.
By Rob Huebert, December 3, 2024
One of the most confounding elements facing Canadians when talking about the Arctic is the confusing manner in which Canadian policy-makers use the term Arctic sovereignty. This confusion continues in the recently released Canadian defence update and will probably be found in the forthcoming Arctic foreign policy. Let’s be clear, Arctic sovereignty disputes are about disagreement with another state over boundaries—terrestrial and maritime—and who can do what within them. But the real existential threat that Canada faces is about Arctic security. The Canadian effort to defend its Arctic must be focused on convincing our enemies that they cannot successfully attack the United States through our Arctic region. We also must assure our allies and friends that we are both willing and able to do this.
An enduing theme in Canada’s history has been a constant call to defend or protect Canadian Arctic sovereignty. Initially, this was based on a fear that the United States wanted to seize or control parts of the Arctic lands and waterways that Canada claims as it owns. Over the years, most of these fears have been mitigated, with the possible exception regarding the Northwest Passage. The United States (and many others states more quietly) see this waterway as an international strait. Canada claims it to be internal waters of Canada. The core issue is over control of the ships and aircraft that may transit through it. The first Trump administration made noises about pushing Canada on this, but nothing came of it. Time will tell if Trump revisits this issue. We also have boundary dispute regarding the Beaufort Sea. However, it has recently been announced that there will be a renewed effort to find a settlement. Somewhere in the distant future there will be a need to resolve overlapping claims to the extended continental shelves of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Russia and the United States. But no one is expecting this to be done anytime soon for a host of reasons. These are Canada’s Arctic sovereignty challenges. They are about diplomacy, international law to establish who controls what.
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