As Military Powers Jostle for the Arctic, How Far Behind Is Canada?

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent makes its way through the ice in Baffin Bay in the Arctic Ocean in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward|February 01, 2026Updated:February 01, 2026The Arctic’s growing importance has reached the point that acquiring Greenland has become a key demand for the second Trump administration amid concerns about Russian and Chinese ambitions in the region, drawing protestations from other allies who urge continued Danish sovereignty over the autonomous territory.When it comes to Canada’s defence of the Arctic, its capabilities for the roughly 4-million-square-kilometre expanse of Arctic territory falls far short when compared to both adversarial countries and its ally the United States. However, some analysts warn that Canada may be falling behind even middle-power Arctic nations, if the sheer size of its Arctic territory is taken into account.