OTTAWA, April 13 — Navigating the Arctic's vast white expanse presents unique challenges for Canadian Air Force helicopter pilot Captain Jonathan Vokey, who normally relies on treelines to judge altitude.
“Operating in the extreme cold takes a toll on the body and can also pose technical difficulties for aircraft,” Vokey told AFP during a training exercise designed to prepare Canadian troops for operations in the country’s far north — a region now at the forefront of national defence priorities.
Canada is intensifying its military presence in the Arctic, which makes up 40 per cent of the country's landmass. Melting sea ice driven by climate change is opening new access routes, escalating the potential for territorial disputes with nations like Russia over the region’s rich natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, and freshwater reserves.
"You can access the North more easily than ever before, and that access will increase significantly in the next 10 to 20 years," said Colonel Darren Turner, commander of Operation Nanook, Canada’s flagship Arctic sovereignty and training mission, launched in 2007.
“Once a route is accessible, others will come — and we must be prepared to intercept and deter if necessary,” he said.
To meet that need, Canada is training more personnel to endure Arctic conditions and is planning the construction of three new northern military hubs. Operation Nanook — named after the Inuit word for "polar bear" — is a cornerstone of that effort.
Troops taking part in the operation undergo rigorous exercises, including diving into icy waters and conducting infrared surveillance — a technique complicated by the Arctic cold, which can mask heat signatures.
‘The environment dictates everything’
Dive team leader Jonathan Jacques Savoie stressed that the harsh climate shapes every aspect of military operations.
“At this location, the environment is the biggest challenge. It determines how we live, move, and fight in the field,” he said, pointing out the -26°C temperature during the exercise.
For infantry reservist Corporal Cassidy Lambert, Operation Nanook marked her first Arctic deployment. Hailing from Newfoundland and Labrador — known for its wet winters — she admitted the Arctic experience was “going to be a little different.”
“I don’t cope well with the cold, but I’ve prepared as best I can,” she said.
Rifleman Steven Breau, from the North Shore Regiment in New Brunswick, noted that Arctic training also includes learning to manage sweat and moisture — a potential hazard in sub-zero temperatures.
“If you overheat and sweat, the moisture turns cold and freezes. Staying dry is crucial to maintaining body heat,” he explained.
Rising geopolitical stakes
While the remote frozen landscape may seem an unlikely flashpoint, global powers are increasingly turning their focus northward.
Former US President Donald Trump notably floated the idea of purchasing Greenland, citing strategic interests in the Arctic.
More recently, Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney underscored the region's importance by announcing a multi-billion-dollar radar defence project during a visit to Iqaluit — part of a broader strategy to bolster national sovereignty in the Arctic.
Briefing soldiers for Operation Nanook, Major Andrew Melvin said a direct clash with foreign forces such as China or Russia is "highly unlikely" during the exercise. However, he warned that foreign intelligence agencies may attempt to gather information during the operation.
For Colonel Turner, defending the Arctic goes beyond security — it’s about preserving a core part of Canada’s national identity.
“It’s deeply tied to our sovereignty and who we are as a country,” he said. — AFP
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