More than 200 Canadian Forces members from all across Canada are currently deployed in the High Arctic for Operation NUNALIVUT. The Arctic sovereignty exercise started on April 1 and will end on April 22.
This year’s Operation NUNALIVUT will take part near the Victoria Island, Nunavut.
While the infantry conduct joint patrols with the Canadian Rangers on the island, divers from the Royal Canadian Navy will perform ice diving operations along Parks Canada’s underwater archeologists.
The ice diving operations will take the divers to the HMS Erebus site where archeological efforts will be conducted.
Operation NUNALIVUT draws members from the Third Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Navy divers, airmen and airwomen from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Rangers and members from the 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.
Operation NUNALIVUT is Canada’s largest Arctic sovereignty military operation. Since 2007, the Canadian Forces have performed many exercises to provide a Canadian presence in the High Arctic.
According to the Canadian Forces website, Operation NUNALIVUT enhances the Canadian Forces capability in the Arctic:
“Operation NUNALIVUT is a sovereignty operation conducted annually since 2007 in Canada’s North, providing an opportunity for the CAF to assert Canada’s sovereignty over its northernmost regions, to demonstrate the ability to operate in the harsh winter environment in remote areas of the High Arctic, and to enhance CAF capability to respond to any situation in Canada’s North.”
Task Force NUNALIVUT is under the command of Joint Task Force North (JTF-N). Brigadier-General Greg Loos, Commander, Joint Task Force (North) said that:
“Operation NUNALIVUT is what I refer to as the ‘jewel’ of our northern operations and every year it seems to become more and more dynamic. CAF personnel will be patrolling a huge area of the JTFN area of responsibility, in the very challenging conditions of a high Arctic winter. In addition, the expertise of our military personnel is enabling Parks Canada to further explore and expand on one of the most celebrated and significant discoveries in our recent time. I am proud that our men and women in uniform deployed North on Operation NUNALIVUT are getting to share in this experience, while still attending to the very important mandate of demonstrating northern sovereignty.”
Lieutenant-Colonel John St. Dennis, Task Force NUNALIVUT Commander, said that:
“Operation NUNALIVUT is an all-encompassing activity, bringing together not only the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force, but also our many community, Allied and Governmental partners; it’s a tangible demonstration of how ‘Team North’ can come together successfully in an environment that few have been to, and fewer still can operate in.”
I had the opportunity to take part in three Arctic sovereignty exercises throughout my military career. Exercises such as Operation NUNALIVUT are probably the best possible experience a Canadian soldier can acquire through peacetime training. In fact, Arctic warfare is very complex and requires more energy to do even the smallest tasks.
Operation NUNALIVUT, with the help of the Canadian Rangers, will train Canadian soldiers to work in extreme temperature while preserving their strength to perform offensive operations.
In 2018, the Nanisivik Naval Facility will be operational, enabling warships from the Royal Canadian Navy to stay in the region for a longer period of time. The facility will then aid Canada’s effort toward Arctic sovereignty.
The Nanisivik Naval Facility
The Nanisivik naval facility, located near the Arctic Bay in Nunavut, will be completed by 2018. The naval facility will be a major addition to Arctic sovereignty by providing more logistical support to Operation NUNALIVUT.
Announced in 2007 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the facility has been designed to welcome Royal Canadian Navy ships for refueling and restocking goods.
National Defence spokeswoman Dominique Tessier said that, “The target date was adjusted to 2018 after they completed initial site investigations … to ensure all requirements of the facility could be met.”
Located about 3,100 km north of Ottawa, the Nanisivik naval facility is a step forward by the Conservative government to ensure Canadian Arctic sovereignty. The facility will keep the warships at sea for a longer period of time—increasing their military presence in the area. Since no airstrip will be available for the Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft, they will land about 33 kilometers from the naval facility. Logistical supply runs could then be dispatched by ground vehicles.
The unheated warehouse and a smaller tank farm will receive minor upgrades. The upgraded housing will have a six person capacity which could be doubled in case of an emergency. The Arctic facility will not be functional during the winter, giving no logistical possibilities for Canadian ships during one of the most critical season in the Arctic, but there is a possibility to upgrade the facility so it becomes operational year-round.
While delays for the Nanisivik naval facility are a set back, it will become a turning point in Canadian Arctic sovereignty.
Meanwhile in Russia
Russia has already planned to build 13 new airdromes and 10 radar sites in the Arctic. Such a move demonstrates the willingness to keep Russia’s borders tight and almost hermetic. These 13 airdromes could also be strategic launch sites for Russian interceptors and intercontinental ballistic missiles installations. The Voronezh radar sites will also provide Russia with a strong early warning system, enabling them to quickly respond to any threats.
The JCSN is fast becoming the strongest and largest military command in the Arctic region. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu confirmed that the Russian military will be ready to meet any unwanted guests from the north and the east.
We can assume that Russia will slowly but steadily buildup a permanent military presence in the Arctic in the next five to ten years. It will be mostly based on the necessity of defending Russia’s interest in the Arctic, as well as providing security to their naval and civilian vessels. With this, we’ll hopefully see elements of search-and-rescue teams getting some much-needed installations so they can quickly respond to emergencies in their area of responsibility, especially with the opening of the northern sea routes where we will see a growing number of commercial ships passing through.
I also believe in Arctic cooperation in search-and-rescue efforts. To protect civilian lives, the West should keep open channels with Russia and conduct joint trainings. Arctic countries has the responsibility to intervene in case of an emergency, saving civilians lives.
Although many consider Russia as an enemy of the West, I don’t believe their intentions is to pose a threat with more troops in the Arctic. In fact, Russia’s Arctic region is rich in natural resources and a military presence will ensure a stable environment for the exploitation.
Russia, like every other Arctic countries, will protect its territory regardless of the international community opinions.
Canada and Russia should work closely together to make the Arctic a safe environment.