Canadian Forces Statement on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy
Introduction
The increase in interdependence of the world, adds to the link between domestic and international security, as developments and threats abroad would affect Canada adversely. For example, the failure of Afghanistan, was a breeding ground for September 11, 2001 attacks.[1] This scenario led to the creation of Canada’s 2005 International Policy Statement, which details Canada’s defense policy.[2] This research discusses Canada Force’s capability in meeting the objectives of this policy by looking at functions, tools and procedures, transformation, expansion, and mission that limit and motivate its intervention in the Arctic.
Analysis
Factors Motivating Canada’s Forces Intervention in the Arctic
One of the reasons for Canada’s intervention in the Arctic Circle is the threat to domestic security. This threat heightened following the 2001 attacks on Washington and New York, which raised the profile of international security and the defense of the continent Canada shares with America.[3] This motivates the forces to adopt not only an international and domestic security agenda, but also an interagency intelligence.[4] Intervention strategies are under the influence of the fact that, the fluid nature of international security does not allow CF to predict the precise threats. For this reason, it focuses on failed and failing states, as a defence agenda in its proactive efforts on areas it can make a difference.[5] The other motivator is its domestic security, under threat from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, by a state or non-state. This poses a threat to both civilian and military aspects. The CF’s activities in the Arctic are, therefore, under the support of the government policy on national security.[6]
Factors Limiting Canadian Force’s Intervention in the Arctic
One of the limitations of CF’s international and domestic security activities is the ability of Canada to carry out surveillance activities, in the vast airspace, territory, and maritime areas, while responding to asymmetric threats. Any attack that uses weapons of mass destruction on any part of Canada’s ports of entry, does not only threaten the safety of those in these areas, but will reverberate in the whole of North America. Moreover, the threat of airspace raids is not by bombers, but rather the possibility of hijacked aircrafts by terrorist groups. There is no doubt that the CF cannot monitor all aircraft activities in Canada, let alone the Arctic, as aircrafts are not limited to airliners, but also include drones, crop dusters, cruise missiles fired from ships and platforms. The challenge for the CF and the Canadian government is the improvement of its intelligence, communication, and information gather capabilities, to gather, analyze, track, use and share data efficiently and fast, especially that of the large volume of land, sea, and air space.[7]
Necessary Capabilities to Meet Statement on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy Objectives
I believe the CF will have the capabilities to meet the objectives of the Statement of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, since the government believes in the defence of Canada and North America. This requires the CF to revise its approach on domestic operations. This is already under way in the CF’s 2005 transformation process.[8] This reformation is creating major changes in the way the CF is carrying out its warfare, as it uses advances in military technology, which when combined with the new military organizational structure and doctrines is giving the force better military operations and character. The CF has the ability to meet foreign policy objectives, since there is support for better information gathering, analysis, and use from the interagency with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Security and Intelligence Secretariat, Communications Security Establishment, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This also includes the Intelligence Secretariat and the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness among others.[9]
Conclusion
Though Canadian air, land, and water space is large limiting the ability of the Canadian Force to monitor activities, gather information, or use preventative measures during an attack, this report finds that the force has the necessary policies, tools, approaches, and resources required. With the support of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Arctic Foreign Policy on Defence, the interagency policy, and the Canadian Force’s 2005 transformation Act, the Canadian Force has the necessary , tools and procedures, and military strategies to protect the Arctic and its boarders, from any international and domestic attack.
Bibliography
Department of National Defence. Canada’s International Policy Statement: A Role of Pride and Influence in the World, Defence, 2005.
Major Lannan, T. Interagency Coordination within the National Security Community: Improving the Response to Terrorism. Canadian Military Journal, Autumn 2004.
National Defence, Canada’s International Policy Statement – A Role of Pride and Influence in the World, Ottawa, 2005. Available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.forces.gc.ca/admpol/downloads/Canada_Defence_2005.pdf.
Sloan, Elinor, The Revolution in Military Affairs, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 2002.
Wispinski, J. The USA Patriot Act and Canada’s Ant-Terrorism Act: Key Differences in Legislative Approach, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, 31 March 2006.
[1] “Failed and failing states have resulted in civil wars, humanitarian catastrophes, and regional instability. Terrorism has emerged as a global threat. The international community has struggled to respond to immediate emergencies and to develop workable strategies for long-term security problems, including the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Long-standing tensions remain in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, with many conflicts seemingly immune to permanent negotiated settlements” National Defence, Canada’s International Policy Statement – A Role of Pride and Influence in the World, Ottawa, 2005, p. 5. Available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.forces.gc.ca/admpol/downloads/Canada_Defence_2005.pdf.
[2] “In the unambiguous words of the 2004 National Security Policy, “there can be no greater role, no more important obligation for a government, than the protection and safety of its citizens.” In a country as large, sparsely populated, and geographically diverse as Canada, surrounded by three oceans, this has never been an easy task. Although new technologies have made monitoring and protecting our homeland easier, carrying out this fundamental responsibility remains a formidable challenge” National Defence, op. cit., p. 16.
[3] “This supports CF’s anti-terrorism activities in the Arctic, as the Canadian Government enacted a legislative response to the September 11 2001 attacks in the Anti-Terrorism Act, which focuses on new crimes and penalties, new investigative tools and procedures, electronic surveillance and communication interception, information gathering, secrecy, and sharing, the listing of terrorist entities, and the suppression of terrorist financing.” Wispinski, J. The USA Patriot Act and Canada’s Ant-Terrorism Act: Key Differences in Legislative Approach, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, 31 March 2006, p.1
[4] “Preventing terrorist activity very much depends on the collection, analysis and dissemination of information and intelligence, and on cooperation between jurisdictions, levels of government and the private sector” Major Lannan, T. Interagency Coordination within the National Security Community: Improving the Response to Terrorism. Canadian Military Journal, Autumn 2004, p.49.
[5] National Defence, op. cit., p.5.
[6] “National Security Policy, which sets out a broad range of new initiatives in areas such as intelligence, emergency planning and management, public health crises, and transportation and border security, to counter the major threats to Canadians. In Budget 2005, the Government made the largest reinvestment in Canada’s military in over 20 years, totaling approximately $13 billion. This sum includes new baseline funding and significant additional resources for capital programs. Now, the government has released the International Policy Statement that establishes the priorities and principles governing Canada’s relations abroad, and leaves no doubt that defence and security are an integral part of our international strategy” Department of National Defence. Canada’s International Policy Statement: A Role of Pride and Influence in the World, Defence, 2005, p.1.
[7] National Defence, op. cit., pp. 16-17.
[8] “Military Transformation is the “set of activities, which the DOD tries to harness the revolution in military affairs to have fundamental changes in operational concepts, technology, doctrine, and organizational structure.”” Sloan, Elinor, The Revolution in Military Affairs, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 2002, p.7.
[9] “interagency coordination is indeed are required throughout the entire federal government infrastructure, and involve all departments and agencies directly involved in combating terrorism and thus have an immediate need to coordinate their activities” Major Lannan, T. Interagency Coordination, 2004, p. 50.
