by Chris Bodenner
The Canadians have used the opportunity of withdrawing from Afghanistan to redouble their efforts to secure a real national interest – territory in the Arctic:
Operation Nanook is expected to involve just about every aspect of Canada’s efforts to use the military to assert its sovereignty in the disputed High Arctic region, including CF-18 fighter jets, surveillance and transport aircraft, a warship, infantry companies from Quebec and Alberta, and Inuit reservists from the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.
Some Canadians see the exercise as an attempt to rectify a growing military gap between Canada and potential Arctic competitors, primarily Russia. Andrew Ward explores the reasoning behind rising military tensions, tracing it back to economic resources exposed by global warming. Terry Macalister rounds up expert opinion on whether these developments could lead to a real conflict near the North Pole.
The Dish 