The arctic and the strategic defence of North America: Resumption of the “long polar watch”

Abstract

Not since the early days of the Cold War when, as Melvin Conant wrote in 1962, the US and Canada had assumed the “long polar watch” against Soviet bombers has the arctic been of such importance to North American strategic defence. The relationship between Russia and the two North American allies is deteriorating, and the Russians have strengthened their military. At the same time, the North Korean nuclear threat has caused the United States to enhance their ABM capabilities in Alaska. The Russians perceive the ABM systems to be directed against them, leading to a redoubling of their efforts to build up strategic forces which will be predominantly based in their arctic region. Furthermore, the Chinese have begun to turn their attention to the arctic. Consequently, both Canada and the United States need to refocus their efforts to protect their shared northern flank. The core means will remain within NORAD but it requires modernization and expansion. Both states will need to ensure that the maritime mission is given greater attention. At the same time Canada will need to revisit its decision to opt out of the United States’ ABM system. The 1990s and 2000s had created the false impression that great-power rivalry was a thing of the past. With its re-emergence, the arctic has regained its position as a major factor in the strategic defence of North America. After a thirty-year hiatus, it is time to resume “the long polar watch.”