NATO should devote more focus to defence in the Arctic, Anand says

The NATO military alliance should devote more of its focus to defending the Arctic, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said as she prepared to welcome her counterparts to a Group of Seven meeting this week.

Foreign ministers including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are taking part in the two-day meeting where topics will include the peace initiatives for Gaza and Ukraine, as well as maritime security, Haiti, Sudan and critical minerals.

Canada is wrapping up its 2025 presidency of the G7, a forum for economic and geopolitical co-operation, and will hand it over to France for 2026.

The 2025 Canadian federal budget announced a major boost in defence spending to expand Arctic and maritime surveillance as rival powers including Russia and China look to the North – which is warming due to climate change – for more resources and a greater strategic presence in the region.

Canada also announced a $1-billion Arctic infrastructure fund to pay for new airports, sea ports and all-season roads in the North that would have dual-use applications for both civilians and the military.

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Ms. Anand said she recently brought up the Arctic with Mark Rutte, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, on efforts beyond protecting the alliance’s eastern border in Europe.

“NATO must be an organization not only that focuses on the eastern flank, but also that looks north. It is, after all, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and my advocacy is in terms of ensuring that the Arctic and Arctic defence and security is part of the conversation in terms of NATO’s overall focus,” Ms. Anand said, adding she’s raised this point with Mr. Rubio and he agrees.

She said she wants to see the Arctic become a focal point for NATO. While it wasn’t included in 2025 budget, Canada is also looking to buy up to 12 submarines to patrol its coasts, including those in the North.

Ms. Anand said she believes Canada’s presidency of the G7 this year has solidified Canadian leaders on the world stage.

The United States has asked for Canada’s help in organizing a reconstruction summit on Gaza that would follow the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas reached in October.

“Secretary Rubio has asked me to continue to play a role, to bring countries to the table, including for the conference on reconstruction – that’s work I’m doing now with many countries,” Ms. Anand said.

She said there will have to be security guarantees for Gaza made by other countries. It’s too soon to say, however, whether Canada would contribute troops to enforcing peace in the territory, the minister said.

“What I can say is we will lead on humanitarian assistance,” Ms. Anand said.

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In September, Canada officially recognized the state of Palestine. Conditions attached to the recognition include democratic reforms in the territory.

Ms. Anand said her efforts to help on reconstruction for Gaza include speaking with foreign counterparts – especially in the Middle East – including Jordan, Egypt and Qatar to signify Canada’s support for humanitarian assistance and electoral reform.

Canada has also invited to the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. meeting foreign ministers from eight countries outside the G7 including India, Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Ukraine.

The White House’s efforts to end Russia’s war on Ukraine have so far failed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has continued to seek more weapons from the U.S., while U.S. President Donald Trump urged the Ukrainian leader at a meeting in Washington last month to cede territory to Russia in order to end the violence.

Mr. Trump in October had said he intended to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, but the meeting was shelved after Moscow rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine.

With reports from Reuters