Russia poses threat in the Arctic, Canadian PM says
Photo: Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada (Getty Images)
Russia poses a threat to Western countries in the Arctic, but at this stage, that threat is more potential than actual, stated Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum, according to Bloomberg.
"Russia is, without question, a threat in the Arctic. Without question. Russia does lots of horrible things," Carney said in response to a question about US President Donald Trump’s claims that Greenland is under threat from Russia and China.
He added that the West seeks to maintain a situation where the Russian threat remains potential rather than real.
Carney explained that Arctic threats are the reason why the West maintains a year-round presence in the air, at sea, and on land, why it is expanding its submarine fleet, strengthening its combat aviation, and deploying over-the-horizon radars to protect against Russian missile threats and other risks.
Answering a question about how this approach aligns with his recent trip to China, Carney said it makes sense for Canada to look for cooperation opportunities with its second-largest trading partner while maintaining "guardrails" around the relations.
The Canadian Prime Minister also noted that discussions about Greenland, initiated by the US, could lead to a more positive outcome.
"Clearly, NATO is experiencing a test right now. And the first response to that test has to be to respond in a way that ensures the security of the Arctic, in a robust way, for all possibilities," he said.
What Trump said
Previously, US President Donald Trump repeatedly justified his interest in Greenland by claiming that the island faces threats from China and Russia.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently pointed out that such US statements and actions are disproportionate, noting that there were previously over 30,000 American troops on the island, and now there are fewer than 100.
