Arctic Cooperation and Military Integration
The head of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) has stated that Chinese and Russian air cooperation in the Arctic has Norad’s "full attention." This comes after the two countries staged a joint patrol in the Arctic near the coast of Alaska last July.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, U.S. Gen. Gregory Guillot noted that it potentially takes decades for two nations’ militaries to reach "full integration" at a level like the U.S. and Canada. He emphasized that the current level of integration is "coordinated," meaning that the two countries can operate safely in the same area, but not at the same level as the U.S. and Canadian Forces.
Guillot highlighted the importance of the deep ties between the two militaries, citing the recent incident where CF-18s and U.S. F-16s and F-35s coordinated to deal with a Russian patrol in the Arctic. He emphasized that the incident demonstrated the strength of the Canada-U.S. military-to-military relationship.
Russian Activity in the Arctic
Guillot noted that there has been a slight uptick in Russian activity in the Arctic this year, including a notable incident in late September when Russian bombers were spotted off Alaska. He expressed surprise at the unprofessional manner in which one of the Russian fighters acted, maneuvering too close to a U.S. aircraft.
Despite this incident, Guillot emphasized that the challenge Norad faces with Russia is the country’s increasing ability to threaten America from further and further away. He noted that Norad is focused on building out its ability to detect threats.
Arctic Presence and Training
Guillot emphasized the need for the U.S. and Canada to increase their Arctic presence through more exercising and campaigning. He noted that forces that rotate into the cold north need to become accustomed to the challenging and frigid conditions for times of crisis.
He also highlighted the importance of training in the Arctic, citing his own trip to Cold Lake, Alta., where he flew in a CF-18, an RCAF aircraft being modernized as a bridge for Canada to transition to the F-35. He plans to visit Inuvik, N.W.T., in February to better familiarize himself with the operations there.
Conclusion
The article highlights the growing importance of Arctic cooperation and military integration between the U.S. and Canada. The joint patrol by Chinese and Russian air forces in the Arctic has raised concerns about the level of coordination between the two countries. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canada are increasing their Arctic presence and training to better prepare for potential crises in the region.
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of the joint patrol by Chinese and Russian air forces in the Arctic?
A: The joint patrol has raised concerns about the level of coordination between the two countries and has drawn attention to the growing importance of Arctic cooperation.
Q: How does the U.S. and Canada’s military integration in the Arctic compare to other regions?
A: The U.S. and Canada have a strong military-to-military relationship in the Arctic, with a high level of integration and coordination.
Q: What is the main challenge facing Norad in terms of Russian activity in the Arctic?
A: The main challenge is Russia’s increasing ability to threaten America from further and further away, which requires Norad to focus on building out its ability to detect threats.
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