German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius proposed that Canada enter into a joint partnership with Norway to protect infrastructure in the Arctic against the background of the threat to the Russian Federation.
Pistorius said this at a meeting with his Canadian colleague Bill Blair in Ottawa, reports DPA.
His statement was made against the background of Ottawa's reasoning that in the event of a military conflict with Russia in Europe, a test of strength will take place and in the strategically important Arctic.
“Let's make a trilateral strategic maritime partnership with an emphasis on the security of sea lanes across the North Atlantic and the Arctic,” Pistorius said.
At the same time, Blair said , that the Canadian Arctic has new and growing threats. Canada has noticed Russian and Chinese activity in the region, he said.
“We could rely on ice to protect our continent, but climate change is challenging that assumption… We know that we have to be stronger and more persistent in demonstrating our presence in the region”, – he noted.
In April, the Canadian government adopted new guidelines for defense policy, which indicates that the most important task is to ensure the protection of sovereignty in the Arctic.