Canadian foreign minister calls for permanent NATO presence in the Arctic

The Norwegian and Canadian coast guards have signed a new cooperation agreement, which will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the Arctic.

The agreement was signed during the Arctic Coast Guard Forum in Copenhagen last week.

In a post on Facebook, the Norwegian Navy informs that the agreement facilitates increased and long-term cooperation in education, training and exchange of personnel.

This is part of a broader international effort to strengthen security, preparedness and situational awareness in the Arctic, it further states.

Other states that participated in the forum in Copenhagen were Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the USA.

Researchers have identified 37 subglacial lakes beneath glaciers in Canada's Arctic, 35 of them previously unknown, according to CBC News.

The study has revealed a hidden water system that could help scientists better understand how glaciers move and lose ice.

Scientists say knowing where the lakes are, and how they fill and drain, could improve our understanding of how quickly glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising. The lakes form a complex network of interconnected water bodies flowing beneath the ice, largely hidden until now.

In March, the Norwegian business Holmøy Havbruk lost 9,300 salmon after a slush flow at their facility in Fiskefjorden in Lødingen municipality, Northern Norway. According to the company, the fish probably died from acute poisoning when the avalanche masses hit the cages.

"Fortunately, reports of landslides that have hit fish farms or had negative consequences for the fish are rare," says Aud Skrudland from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to iLaks.

This is also confirmed by the Directorate of Fisheries.

"This type of incident can occur, but very rarely," says Communications Director Anette Aase, who emphasizes that most facilities are located far enough from mountain slopes to avoid the risk of avalanches.

Avalanches have nevertheless led to consequences in the past. Troms County Council refers to facilities having had to be moved after avalanches, and recalls an incident in 2021 where a facility with 1.2 million fish was hit in the Alta fjord.

As a measure to increase voter turnout, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) gave out $100 vouchers to Inuits who voted in the presidential election.

The scheme had an immediate effect: Voter turnout increased from 18 percent in 2022 to 66 percent in 2024, NTI CEO Kilikvak Kabloona told CBC News.

The voucher program is now becoming permanent.

At the same time, NTI is introducing stricter rules: Only Inuit-owned businesses with a physical presence in Nunavut can accept the vouchers in the upcoming by-election.

This is drawing criticism from the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce, which believes that online Inuit businesses are being unfairly excluded.

“It should be up to the people, it should be up to the Inuit, to decide where they want to spend that voucher,” says President Tara Qunngaataq Tootoo Fotheringham.

NTI responds that the intention is to ensure that the values remain in local communities.

Last week, production began at the Canadian Davie's shipyard in Quebec of the Polar Max icebreaker, one of two new polar icebreakers being constructed for the Canadian Coast Guard.

Polar Max, expected to be delivered by 2030, is part of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) that Canada, Finland and the United States signed in 2024.

Construction of the Polar Max hull began at Davie's shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, in August 2025.

The second new Canadian icebreaker is being built at Seaspan's shipyard in Vancouver.

"In a region shaped by rapid climate and geopolitical change, these vessels will play a vital role in Canada’s Arctic future. Flying the Canadian flagyear‑round in Arctic waters, they will strengthen our sovereignty, support maritime safety and security, and provide the essential services northern communities and Arctic science rely onfor decades to come," says David J. McGuinty, Canada’s Minister of National Defense.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview on Wednesday that he is seriously considering pulling the US out of NATO after the allies refused to join the Iran war on his side.

“I’ve never been impressed with NATO. I’ve always known they’re a paper tiger and Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump told Britain’s The Telegraph.

Trump is upset that the other NATO countries have not wanted to step in and secure oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively stopped after the US and Israel's attack on Iran.

The president draws comparisons to the war in Ukraine.

“Ukraine was not our problem. It was a test and we were there for them. But they are not there for us,” Trump said, referring to Iran.

Enhanced Canadian-Norwegian cooperation is being rolled out in new areas following Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney's (Liberal) visit to Norway in mid-March.

Now the countries are aiming for increased cooperation in the field of research, not least when it comes to Arctic research.

This is stated in a new joint statement, launched in connection with the visit of the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education Sigrun Aasland (Labour) to Canada this week.

"We live in turbulent times and Canada is among our most important allies. Quantum technology, AI and Arctic research are crucial for both security and competitiveness, and are areas where we want even closer cooperation with Canada", says Aasland.

The president of Aurora College, Angela James, has retired from her position effective immediately.

This was reported in a press release from the university, which is located in the Canadian Northwest Territories.

James took office in August 2024 for a five-year period and was to lead the college "into the next phase of transformation into a polytechnic university."

The college's board did not provide a reason for her early retirement.

The Nordic countries and Canada are intensifying their cooperation in the areas of defence, security, resilience and green economic growth.

This was reported by the Norwegian Office of the Prime Minister in a press release.

At the Nordic-Canadian summit in Oslo today, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney together with Prime Ministers Mette Fredriksen of Denmark, Ulf Kristersson of Sweden, Petteri Orpo of Finland and Kristrún Frostadóttir of Iceland.

‘The Nordic countries and Canada have a great deal in common. We are all Arctic states and close NATO Allies, and we have many shared values and interests. Today, we have agreed to further deepen our cooperation in order to safeguard our security and create new opportunities for economic growth,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

In a joint statement, the six Prime Ministers acknowledge that we are living in a time of heightened geopolitical tension, war and climate change, and reaffirmed that they are united in viewing international cooperation based on international law, shared values and interests as the best way to strengthen our common security and prosperity.

‘Canada and the Nordic countries work hard every day to enhance security in the Arctic, and we support the efforts to strengthen the Allied presence through NATO. For Norway, it is vital to build vibrant local communities in the north – communities where people want to live and that enhance our national security and preparedness,’ said Mr Støre.

In a world where technology and international trade are increasingly being used as coercive tools, high priority will be given to economic security, job creation and green economic growth as the Nordic countries and Canada work to strengthen their cooperation.

‘The Nordic countries and Canada are committed to democracy, the rule of law and international law. We firmly support Ukraine in its legitimate fight to defend itself against Russia’s illegal and brutal war, and we call on all members of the Coalition of the Willing to increase their support,’ said Mr Støre.

This week, a joint Nordic transport ministers' meeting was held in Rovaniemi, Finland. The purpose of the meeting was to observe the NATO exercise Cold Response 2026 and discuss a recently developed joint Nordic strategy for preparedness in the transport system.

In 2025, through the Nordic Transport Preparedness Cooperation (NTPC), close cooperation has been established and a joint Nordic strategy has been created on behalf of the Nordic transport ministers.

The strategy is based on the transport plans of the individual Nordic countries, and a set of common priorities is proposed. This concerns the transport corridors that are of greatest importance in a Nordic context, and the measures that NTPC considers to be most critical.

In addition, challenges and needs for follow-up of infrastructure, materials, regulations and transport services must be identified.

In a joint statement, the three transport ministers agreed to prioritize the most important transport routes across national borders. They will also remove traffic obstacles to facilitate the movement of the armed forces, and to ensure good crisis preparedness and the safe delivery of goods.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Norway on Friday, March 13, at the invitation of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. This is Merz's first official visit to Norway.

"In a time of great international uncertainty, I look forward to welcoming our most important partner in Europe. Norway and Germany have a close and close cooperation economically, in security policy, militarily and in a number of other areas," says Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre according to a press release.

On the agenda are both space travel and the military exercise Cold Response. Støre and Merz will meet to discuss, among other things, defense and security cooperation, the situation in Ukraine, and space cooperation.

Monday, the Arctic Winter Games kicked off in Whitehorse, Canada.

The games bring about 2,000 participants from Arctic nations together over the next week to compete in 20 sports.

The Arctic Winter Games were founded in 1969 and are a biennial multi-sport and indigenous cultural event involving circumpolar peoples residing in communities or countries bordering the Arctic Ocean.

"Norway and Canada have a close relationship and have much in common. In a time of increasing geopolitical unrest, it is important to strengthen trade policy cooperation. Canada offers good opportunities for Norwegian companies, and Norway is also an attractive country for Canadian investments. Closer trade cooperation will be good for both countries," says the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth in a press release.

Norway and the three other EFTA countries, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, have a trade agreement with Canada. The agreement dates from 2008 and mainly covers trade in industrial goods, fish and seafood.

"Norway believes it is time to modernize and update the free trade agreement between the EFTA countries and Canada. We believe the agreement should be expanded to also apply to trade in services, business establishment and public procurement, among other things. It is positive that the EFTA countries and Canada are planning a meeting during the first half of 2026 for further negotiations on this," says Myrseth.

On Monday, Greenland and Canada signed a letter of intent on the strengthened cooperation on critical minerals and energy.

The agreement has strategic and economic significance for both parties, writes Greenland's government, Naalakkersuisut.

"The cooperation will lead to a better understanding of our natural resources and increased economic activity. Lately, Greenland has been the subject of international attention. This agreement cements the importance of strong alliances and partnerships," says Naaja Nathanielsen (IA), Greenland's Naalakkersuisoq (minister) of Industry, Raw Materials, Mining, Energy, Law Enforcement and Equality.

On Wednesday, a delegation from the Canadian parliament, led by Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, visited Norway.

This was reported by the Norwegian parliament, which is hosting the visit.

The Canadian delegation's agenda includes a number of political meetings, such as with the parliament president (speaker), as well as members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and the delegation for Arctic parliamentarian cooperation.

"Canada and Norway share democratic values, have historical ties and are close allies. Our relationship becomes increasingly important in these uncertain times. As Arctic coastal states, we see the need for closer cooperation in the North," says the Norwegian parliament president Masud Gharahkhani (Labor).

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian aircrafts operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on February 19, the command informs in a press release.

The Russian aircrafts were two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50.

NORAD launched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.

"The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD states in the press release.

Canada and Denmark have signed a defense cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

That is reported by CBC News.

The agreement follows the Trump Administration's threats to take over Canada and was signed by Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, together with his Greenlandic and Faroese counterparts, Vivian Motzfeldt and Sirið Stenberg.

"Canada is an Arctic nation — and we will defend the North," McGuinty said in a statement after signing the agreement.

The Danish Ministry of Defense reports that the agreement will strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries in a number og areas, including defense innovation, technology, capacity building, and training, exercise and education.

NATO has launched the mission to strengthen its presence in the Arctic, part of an effort to defuse tensions within the alliance prompted by the U.S. president's push to acquire Greenland from Denmark.

"Our F-35 contribution strengthens the overall presence in the region and underscores Denmark's role as an active ally in the Arctic and North Atlantic," Denmarks minister of defense, Trouls Lund Poulsen said in a statement.

Poulsen also expects the United States to contribute to the NATO mission, he told reporters ahead of the Munich Security Conference.

Arviat in Nunavut located along the western shore of Hudson Bay, will be the home of the first Inuit-led university in Canada's Arctic.

This according to CBC News.

The location of the main campus was formally announced in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon during an event hosted by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national organization representing Inuit.

ITK President Natan Obed said the creation of the first university in Inuit Nunangat — the homeland of Inuit in Canada — is an important step in asserting jurisdiction in the Canadian Arctic.